Maribel Rodríguez, 36, went from being an English student at the Metropolitan Learning Institute to being on the staff.
“Now I can express myself better, doors have opened to me, like this job. I never imagined working in an office. I never would have imagined it, “Rodriguez said.
Rodríguez came to New York in 2005, worked in a laundry and as a waitress in a restaurant, but her life took a turn when she started studying English last year.
“Look, it was in a room like this that it all began,” Rodríguez said in a classroom at the Metropolitan Learning Institute, located at 8904 Fifth Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
This is a non-profit organization that operates with federal funds and has been teaching English and technical careers for free to immigrants, especially women, for over 20 years.
Rodríguez.
“The mission is to get all immigrants who have arrived from their country without any knowledge or higher education to do any type of office work in the United States,” said Khaleda Parvin, director of the Metropolitan Learning Institute.
The program lasts fifteen months. The first six months are dedicated to the study of English and the rest to IT, medical factoring and accounting lessons.
“From there come the programs that are Power Point, Excel, Microsoft World, what is needed for an office,” added Rodríguez.
The school offers free books and $ 1,000 aid to students.
Classes are held both at school and online from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 17:15 to 22:15.
To be part of the program you must have legal status or have political asylum in the country.
Proof of income and high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Once students like Maribel Rodriguez have finished their course, the school administration helps them find jobs in both medical practices and companies.
“Hit the opportunity and here we continue to exploit it,” said Rodríguez.
These classes open the doors to the New York market for many mothers and fathers.
For more information you can call 929-479-7269 or visit the website gettraining.org
