I’m from the Dominican Republic. I have a young daughter. She is two years old. We’re living in a shelter right now as my husband was very possessive and abusive.

I found out about Mujeres Unidas en Accion because there are some girls where I live who come here. I like the program because there are a lot of people who speak Spanish and I can communicate with them. Here we are all women.

My hopes are to get my own apartment so I can live more peacefully. In the shelter there are too many women. I am finishing my GED (I need only to take the mathematics exam) and am learning to speak and write more in English. When I started at Mujeres I was in level I. Now I am in level II. I want to get to level III. My plans after leaving Mujeres Unidas en Accion are to go to college and get a job. I learned at the Boston Latino Career Expo that there aren't enough nurses. I would like to study at Bunker Hill Community College. It is going to be hard and it will take me a few years, but I will do it.

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I was a paralegal in Puerto Rico. I came here 13 years ago to raise my children. I tried to get a job when my children started school, but there were two problems: I only knew how to type on a typewriter and I could speak English OK, but I really couldn’t write it so well. A friend told me about Mujeres. I started in the basic computer class and the third level of English. I practiced outside of class on my children’s computer and graduated to the intermediate computer class. What a surprise when my instructor told me I could go to the advanced computer class! I couldn’t believe it.

I learned how to type on the computer; send email; and use Microsoft Word and Excel. My English improved from taking the third level of English and the advanced class. Now I want to go to one of the community colleges in Boston so that I can get a paralegal certificate and update my credentials. I am proud to be a student of Mujeres. Thank you for the opportunities that the institution has given me. I know I will be able to get a good job when I finish my college program.

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I am from Honduras and I have been living in the United States for 19 years. I want to begin by telling you that my numerous attempts at obtaining education in this country and fulfilling my professional goals were dismal failures. All the colleges I looked into required that you have a GED. I spent a lot of time and money trying to obtain my GED in English. I took the test twice and came up a few points short both times.

One day a friend told me about Mujeres Unidas en Accion. I called they told me to come down, fill out paperwork for entrance to the program, and take an entrance exam, which I passed. I was very nervous and excited but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Why? The classes were in Spanish! The language in which I received my instruction made all the difference. I also took English classes to learn the language, which helped me to find a job. I felt secure knowing that while I was studying, my little daughter could play in the day care with other children. They had a terrific group of volunteers who spent one-one-on time with my daughter and read to her, too.

In addition, my teacher at Mujeres guided me firmly in achieving my goals. After one year of hard work, I took the exam. I was one of the people who obtained the highest score. Immediately after obtaining my GED I enrolled in Roxbury Community College where I received a degree as an executive secretary. Now I work at Mass. General Hospital in the Hematology/Oncology Disease Center. I am thinking about enrolling in Cambridge College to get my certificate as a medical interpreter.

When someone asks me where I got my GED, it is with pride that I say Mujeres Unidas en Accion. If it had not been for this institution my life wouldn’t be where it is today. Thanks to all the staff who supported me in my educational career. I hope that Mujeres Unidas en Accion is always available for all those women who want to realize their professional and educational dreams in this country. Thank you Mujeres Unidas en Accion!

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I have been working as a volunteer at a day care center in Boston. When the day care center had an opening position it was offered to me, but I was not eligible because I did not have a high school diploma. I started looking for a school and my sister talked to me about MUA. I decided to enroll in MUA’s GED program. I finished the exams and I started looking for a college program in early childhood development. But there's more! I took part in MUA's many workshops. I learned about colleges, becoming a home day care provider, and one about women being small business owners. I decided to go forward with a professional career! I got a certificate in family childcare at the same time I got my license as a home day care provider. Then I started my own home day care center. I entered MUA with the only goal of getting my GED. I accomplished so much more, right?