By Jennifer Marshall | Project Leader
We are officially open for enrollment for second semester classes! Thanks to your support, the Batahola Center is buzzing with energy as new students sign up for classes in Cosmetology, Advanced Hair Styling, Handicrafts, Cake Decorating, Cuisine of the Americas and Pastry Making. Just yesterday I met one of the young women who has decided to learn Pastry Making starting in July.
Cinthya lives in a neighborhood close to Batahola, sharing a home with her aunt, grandma, sister, brother-in-law and two nephews. She said she got to know the Center by coming to get her hair styled -- for free -- by students in the Saturday Cosmetology class.
Like many of our students, Cinthya grew up surrounded by women role models, since her father abandoned the family when she was young. Now 25 years old, she gives thanks because “my aunt and grandma have always been there to take care of me and raise me.” Cinthya has a university degree, but has been unable to find work in her field. This is common for young people, who face high rates of unemployment (8%) and underemployment (54%).
“I decided to enroll in the Pastry Making class with the hope of getting a loan to open my own business one day,” Cinthya shared. “Right now the only income I get is from selling beauty products. It’s not a very steady income, but it helps me get by. Now I’m motivated to get ahead and generate my own income with the skills I learn.”
Cinthya is just one of the 100 young women who will be able to take concrete steps toward a new, more stable future because of your gift. You helped us achieve our goal of $8,000 in just two weeks! You also inspired us to think bigger – we have doubled to 200 the number of women and girls we plan to reach this semester. And to make it possible, we have increased our funding target to $15,000.
I am confident we can meet this goal because a generous donor has committed to match donations up to $1,000 starting THIS Friday, June 26th and going until Monday at midnight. This means that for every dollar we receive over the next few days, an additional dollar will be added to the total. Please help us spread the word about this matching gift – and together we will reach our new goal of supporting 200 women by next Tuesday!
Thank you!
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