And the Winner is.....!!!!

Congratulations to Valdineia Januszewski- the winner of

NDEC’s 1^st ever 50-50 Raffle! 

Our community raised a total of $4,200 (that is 840 tickets sold!). Valdineia won $2,100! Valdineia is a student in NDEC's ESOL program and came to the US from Brazil in 2016 looking for a new life and new opportunity. She opened her own cleaning business, Crystal Cleaning, and eventually, she met the man who would become her husband. Her goal is to continue to improve her English and go to nursing school. Valdineia intends to put her winnings towards citizenship application costs! We think the pictures above show the joy she exudes! Congratulations, "Neia"!!!

A REFLECTION and GRATITUDE

by Amy Hitchmoth,

Development/Social Media Manager, NDEC

The winning ticket was drawn by the top seller and fellow student, Victor Martinez. Neia and Victor represent our students in so many ways. This was an INCREDIBLY SPECIAL event that brought all of us - students and staff - CLOSER as a team. We saw the Center come together over the last few weeks to raise over four thousand dollars for our Holiday Raffle. Our students showed up for us. They gave from their hearts - and I would argue they gave from their souls. Each day we build our BRIDGE OF HOPE stronger - TOGETHER. I am grateful to be part of it. Let this be a reminder, and a beacon we have so much more light to shine. We have so much more we can do! We have a COMMUNITY that stands together - who faces each other and says: "What do you need? I am here to help."

It is not always easy to talk about money or 'fundraise', so it is with deep GRATITUDE I thank everyone who bought, sold tickets, shared the word, and supported us. YOU INVESTED IN HOPE. Here's to the upcoming 2024 year and to Notre Dame Education Center! Here's to US! Here's to our Staff! Here's to our Teachers! Here's to our Board of Directors! Here's to OUR STUDENTS. Here's to all of the people who believe in us, in what we do, and know that when faced with any challenge. We will all put our HEARTS and MINDS together and we will get the job done.

FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER. MY JOURNEY: FROM KENYA - NDEC!

by Diana Onacha, ESOL Instructor, NAP Program

As an immigrant from Kenya and being very new to the American culture and workforce, it has been a challenging journey. But we all have to start somewhere despite having prior education from our native countries. So for me, I decided to embark on a journey into healthcare. Along the way I found myself having to care for family members. That’s how I landed at NDEC-L pursing the CNA course.

Three months down the lane, I finally graduated and as an alumni of NAP- NDEC Lawrence, my thoughts were to finish my Nursing assistant program and join the CNA’s at the hospital, which I did.

Little did I know where I would be few months later!

An opportunity arose and I was contacted for an interview for the ESOL- ENAP instructor! I did not hesitate as I remembered while I was a student there we always wished to end up being as happy as the employees at NDEC seemed to be! I did the onboarding, and there I was - going for my first class! I will never forget how nervous I was, but the support I have gotten from my supervisor is immeasurable! I was given a soft landing and the anxiety I had disappeared. I was now the one pushing to conduct the classes myself. However, I never imagined myself teaching, but here I am preparing for lessons and enjoying it!

I have learned so much, and the greatest feeling is that of seeing my first class of students graduating!

Through the NDEC-L alumni- staff program, I am making a difference in my life and knowing that while I was planning my career path in Kenya, it did not go to waste. I‘m using my skills and knowledge in my new position.

To the ENAP class, what I have gained from you is much more than what I could ever ask for. Having once been sitting on the same seat as you, I would like to wish you a very bright road ahead. Students: You now have a new beginning, just as you have given me.

Sister Mary Farren (Former President of the Corporation), Sister Dianne Shaw (NAP Program Recruitment), and Sister Barbara Guttierez (Former NAP Coordinator) (pictured left to right in the above photo) have all leant their considerable talents and heart to NDEC!

FROM THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME de NAMUR EAST-WEST PROVINCE FACEBOOK POST:

"Last Sunday, at a ceremony at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston, four of our Sisters were recognized with the Cheverus Award by the Archdiocese of Boston, recognizing their service to the Church and God's people."

CONGRATULATIONS SISTERS on these well-deserved awards in recognition of your lifetimes of service. We as a Center have benefited - and continue to benefit - from your passion, dedication, and commitment to EDUCATING under-served populations here in Massachusetts. We are grateful to be the recipients of your expertise, compassion, and service.

Dear Friend,

As we launched our first 50/50 Raffle at NDEC, I reflected on how much the concept of chance and opportunity arise in our work. All of our students have taken a tremendous chance in coming to the United States, leaving their home countries and starting fresh in a place where they know few people, and do not know the culture or the language. The chance they take is thrilling, stressful, and often, lonely. It is a such big chance to take, to leave so much and travel so far, with no guarantees.

So each student success is a cause for celebration! It was my pleasure to congratulate our newest nursing assistant program graduates this month and to recognize all of our ESOL students who persist in their language learning. And it was incredibly exciting to be able to give the prize of the 50/50 raffle to a student who has worked so hard to make her American Dream. When our students win, we all win!

Thank you for the gift of your support of our community. We wish for you the happiest of holidays, full of love. And we look to 2024, with hope.

Most sincerely,

Alisa Povenmire

Executive Director