Carolyn
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About Carolyn (How Savers Are Selected)
Carolyn left her mother behind in Uganda to come join her brothers and her father in Massachusetts back in January of 2008. She had been brought up with a great respect for education, her family in Uganda doing whatever it took to put together money for school fees. Carolyn has just completed the Year Up program, which provided her with an internship and a first look at college classes in the US. She heard about the matched savings program at JVS/Midas through people working for Year Up.
Carolyn worked hard in school and has managed to be a good saver despite her limited income. She especially found the financial literacy and budgeting component of the program extremely helpful. “Before, if I got money, I would spend it and had trouble paying bills at the end of the month. Now I can follow a budget and save. I learned to buy only what I need. Even after the matched savings program I will now be putting money aside for my education.”
Carolyn had been studying to be a physical therapist in Uganda. She continued her interest in the healthcare field by working for a rehabilitation center in Quincy. Now she is elated to have been accepted to the nursing program at UMass Boston. The matched savings program will be an important part of helping her through. "This money will be essential for books and tuition," Carolyn explains. "Not having to spend all that money out of my pocket for books will allow me to afford essentials such as food, clothing, and transportation." The matched savings program will be the extra boost she needs to complete her degree so that one day she can help care for people as a nurse.
UPDATE: As of fall 2009, Carolyn has reached her $1,500 savings goal! She expects to begin using her matched savings soon.
Updates
People who have Contributed to this Saver
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