Fight Poverty: Educate Women in Panama

We conduct these interviews with our graduates to understand what motivates them to join CAPTA and also to provide basic insight into the mindsets of the women we train. This is Ana's interview, she recently graduated and has been able to cash in her first check which will contribute to her daughter's education back home. 

What is your name?

Ana

How old are you?

I am 47 years old

Are you single or married?

I am legally married, but at the moment we are separated.

Do you have children?

Yes, I have a daughter who is 8. She lives far away from me with her grandparents and I miss her very much.

Have you finished high school?

No, I couldn’t finish high school. I reached 11^th grade.

What did you do before the program?

Before the program, I used to work as a housemaid.

When you heard about CAPTA, what did you like about it?

What I really liked about CAPTA is that the program offers the opportunity to learn important skills that could help me land a stable job.

Why do you think you need this program?

The reason I think I need this program is for personal development, as a mother I want to provide for my daughter and I want to give her a better life.

What did you feel when you were accepted into the program?

I felt the desire to improve I knew this program would be for my benefit.

What would you like to change about your life?

I think that I would prefer to have a better quality of life.

What are your goals after you finish the program?

For me it’s a must to always keep learning and growing. I would like a stable job, improve my quality of life, own my home so that I can bring my daughter to live with me and provide for her.

What change would you like to see in the world?

I’d like to see equal opportunities for children. Learning and studying are basic things that all children should have, just like food and water.

What have you learned recently that you would have liked to know when you were a young girl?

I guess I didn’t know how important school was; if I knew better, I would have finished high school.

Anything funny about your personality?

The way I communicate, always with joy even if I am tired.

What does luxury mean to you?

Luxury means being able to afford a comfortable life style. Having my own home and car to move around, having my bills up to date. 

What would you tell a woman who could help you by buying something luxurious?

I would tell her how grateful I feel for the help she’s provided me and other women in need.

Would you like to receive some advice from these women? What would you ask?

Yes, of course I would. I would ask her for advice on what can I do to have the same opportunities she has. 

What advice could you give to a younger woman?

A good advice for a younger woman is to study, so that she does not regret it later.

How did this program change your life? Has there been a change in your life after the program?

The program helped me to improve as a person. Now I can solve conflicts and express myself without aggression.  My life changed because they gave me the key to change things in my life. For example, now I have a stable job and I am about to cash my first paycheck. I will send that money to my mother to help pay my daughter’s education back home.