2024 Interns Move on to their Next Steps
As 2024 came to an end, so did the placements for the latest group of women in the Kateri Tekakwitha Fund Internship Program, "Mi Primer Empleo." These women are now continuing on to their next steps, carrying with them the skills and experiences of the last year.
Paula
Several of the young women have begun permanent positions since finishing their internships. One example is Paula. Although she had the desire to work, she had been unable to find an opportunity to develop her skills. That changed when she was accepted into the Internship Program,.
"I recognize that before entering the internship program I had very low self-esteem,” she reflects. "Due to lack of job opportunities, I was not able to gain work experience."
Paula completed her internship at a nonprofit credit agency focused on community development, but the experience was not without challenges. She faced some struggles at the beginning of her internship due to her lack of familiarity with the financial procedures. However, she persevered and applied herself to learn new skills. She credits her colleagues for guiding her and sharing their knowledge.
"These months as an intern I have learned many things both personally and professionally,” she says. "As the days go by, I have obtained new knowledge and, thanks to the opportunity of the internship, I feel like another person.”
At the end of the internship, she was offered a position with the company. She is excited to have stable employment while she pursues additional training, with the ultimate goal of becoming a baker.
"Thanks to this, more doors of employment will open for me.”
Ingrid
Ingrid also gained skills during her internship at a nonprofit organization focused on women’s rights and violence prevention. As she conducted a survey and had interactions with clients, she learned more about women impacted by violence and abuse.
"I learned how to be more empathetic, to be less shy, to expand my knowledge,” she says.
Ingrid was also open to feedback from others, which helped her to become more organized and to handle unexpected situations that she encountered. Just before her internship ended, she was offered a job at another organization. She is now working as a clerk at a pharmacy.
"Thank you for the support you gave me during the time that I did my internship and for the experience you gave me through this project, Mi Primer Empleo. It helped me to have more knowledge of a formal job, and how to be effective and do things much better.”
Floridalma
Floridalma completed her internship in the human resources department of a community health center. Having studied public administration, she considered this a wonderful opportunity to develop her skills. She quickly learned the processes for handling different documents and ensuring staff compliance with organizational policies. She also gained skills related to technology, as she worked with new computer programs.
Perhaps most importantly, Floridalma’s attitude and self-confidence strengthened over the course of the year. Carmela Paz, Intern Program Coordinate, describes seeing a change in her spirit from fearful to determined.
“Now she sees herself as a fighting woman, who has managed to overcome many difficulties and is able to work with responsibility, punctuality, and determination,” Carmela says.
Thanks in part to that experience, Floridalma was offered a position in a financial cooperative and has begun working in this new position. She was very excited to begin this new job and hopes that more women can be given support as they begin their careers.
“Many do not have the possibility of having a job because they do not have the experience,” she recognizes, “but the internship helps.”
As we move forward in 2025, a new group of women has begun their internships. Your support makes these experiences possible, opening doors for those trying to utilize their education and accomplish their goals.
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