Catherine

After quitting school in grade seven, Catherine had a series of low-paying jobs as a waitress and was forced to live on social assistance. Two abusive relationships left her at the age of 23 with two children and no money.

She moved in with her mom and soon found out that she could try her GED exams through the YWCA on Kingston Road in Toronto.

“The preparation for the exams took about three weeks,” she explains “and the counsellors at the Y stayed late at night to tutor me one-on-one.”

The YWCA was a place she found she could always return to and took advantage of several courses including a program in office administration and computer courses, with funding from the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

Her goals have completely changed as a result of her association with the YWCA.

“Originally, I wanted to get a job as a legal assistant, “ she explains, “but now I am planning on taking courses in counseling and database and computer training.”

Now a full-time employee at the YWCA as a group facilitator, Catherine believes she has learned how to treat people as a result of her association there. “The staff here is different. They listen to your goals,” she says. “At other places, you’re just a number.”

On a personal level, Catherine’s self-esteem has “gone through the roof.”

At 41, she still lives with her mother, along with her children now 20 and 17. “Why not,” she says. “She’s great with the kids.”

“My kids say I am a completely different person,” she says. “My son tells everyone how proud he is of me.”

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