When Nithya moved to the United States more than a decade ago, she put her career on pause to support her family. In 2019, she decided to begin her job hunt but found it difficult to navigate the online job search process. She was not receiving any responses to her job applications and was feeling frustrated. She discovered PA Women Work, where she participated in New Choices and 3 Cups of Coffee. She was connected to a volunteer mentor who helped her broaden her search, build her confidence and ultimately get hired in a new position where she is thriving.

Christina battled a series of challenges as a young mom. Thanks to caring supporters along the way, she decided to take her life back and built a stable future for herself and her two daughters. After completing her GED and Associate’s Degree, she participated in PA Women Work’s New Choices program, where she built her professional skills and learned how to apply for positions that met her skillset. After obtaining employment, Christina kept moving forward and is now working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh with help from a PA Women Work scholarship.

Saumu is originally from Kenya. A mom of three, she always wanted to work to help support her family. After training to become a doula, Saumu struggled to find employment after the pandemic. She worked a series of jobs to get by but had trouble finding one that provided for her family and fulfilled her. She missed her career as a doula. She reached out to PA Women Work and received one-on-one career coaching that helped strengthen her resume and streamline her job applications. She is back to working as a birth doula, doing what she loves.