Our Stories
“It is a horrible feeling, knowing that I don’t have enough money to feed my family. Helping me feed my children is one of Oasis’ greatest gifts to me. I am also getting a quality education in the GED program. My children look at me as their mentor for the first time. It is a great feeling to know that they are proud of me. I thank Oasis every day for helping me make a better life for me and my family.”
Belinda / GED Student/ Oasis – A Haven For Woman and Children
“I am very thankful to Oasis because they were the light at the end of the dark tunnel of domestic violence for me and my three girls. They fed and took care of me and my children, just like a good family member would. They lifted my spirits and soon my life started to change. I was finally able to concentrate and develop my writing, speaking and computer skills. I could not have ever imagined that I would be typing an essay in English on a computer! I feel happy with myself because I know that nothing can stop me from being the best I can be.” 
Nancy / Past ESL & Present GED & Computer Student / Oasis – A Haven For Woman and Children

Carolyn Smith

 

Arriving at Oasis two years ago with minimal job skills, Carolyn Smith immediately enrolled in our GED program and began attending weekday classes.

During her first year at Oasis, Carolyn received our Top GED Student of the Year Award. “I’ve come this far by faith,” she said at the time. “With the time my teachers spent working with me, I persevered. I went after my GED with much more confidence!” When Carolyn took her GED exam, she passed.

In September 2008, Carolyn enrolled in our newly reinstated Computer Skills Program while continuing to work at Century 21. She attended morning classes at Oasis, leaving before Community Lunch to ensure she arrived at her job on time. This past year, Carolyn received the Oasis Adult Education Perfect Attendance Award. She received the Oasis Computer Skills Award for outstanding dedication and commitment to learning as well.

In September 2009, Carolyn began taking five classes towards an Associate Degree in Public Business Administration at Passaic County Community College (PCCC).

Throughout her journey, Carolyn has remained extremely positive and spiritual, as well as giving towards her fellow students.

Her dedication and continued focus on education as a means to achieve self-sufficiency is an inspiration to all Oasis students. It is a true measure of the positive social impact of providing educational opportunities to all women - including those in financial distress - who have a desire to become productive members of their community.

Carolyn plans to return to Oasis as a guest speaker in our self-esteem workshops. Her focus will be the importance of assuming personal responsibility for setting and achieving one’s own individual goals.

Carolyn recently talked about her experience at Oasis: “I have survived paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes it is very hard to make ends meet. I believe that it is time that I upgrade myself. Oasis has opened its door for me and has given me the opportunity to get an education. I am proud because I was successful in my GED exam and completed the computer course - and it’s all through Oasis. I will be pursuing an Associate Degree in Public Administration. I know it’s going to be challenging because this is my first college experience, but with God all things are possible.”

 

 

Lilia Guadamur

 

 Lilia Guadamur was an engineering student in Peru. When she came to the United States, she got a job making sandwiches in a deli. Lilia says. “I wanted something different.”

                                           

In 2005 Lilia, a married mother of four children, was looking for a place to learn to speak English so she could eventually find a better job. “I knew I had to learn English and I knew none when I left Peru,” Lilia remembers. She enrolled in English as a Second language (ESL) class at Oasis. She began at ESL level 1 and in a few short years completed ESL Level 3.

Throughout this time, Lilia’s youngest child, her son Jose, attended Oasis’ Nurturing Center. Executive Director Angela Zapka remembers Jose taking his very first steps right here at Oasis: “It was a special day to see this little child walking towards me for the first time with his arms outstretched!”

After completing ESL Level 3, Lilia enrolled in Oasis’ Computer class and focused on building her job skills.

With her English-language skills and her newly acquired computer skills, Lilia was able to get a higher level job. Lilia now works as a bi-lingual secretary in a medical office. She loves showcasing her typing and letter-writing at work; however, Lilia says that’s not the only way her education at Oasis has helped her. “English has helped me with my kids’ school and teachers, and even when I talk to their doctors, I know more now.”

Confidently striding in her black high heels, Lilia is every bit the career woman, balancing her full family life and her satisfying job while continuing to build on her computer skills. “Oasis is a great place for me,” Lilia says. “No other place helps you study while watching your kids for free! No place except Oasis.”

 

 

Nancy Montes

 

Nancy Montes, a mother of three children, was a victim of domestic violence when she first arrived at Oasis. Suffering from low self-esteem, poor English language skills and minimal job skills, Nancy enrolled in our Self-Esteem Workshops and began taking ESL classes. We have watched Nancy blossom as she graduated from ESL level 3 and enrolled in Oasis GED and Computer Training classes – all the while continuing actively participate in our weekly Self-Esteem Workshop.

 

Today Nancy wants to give back by helping others suffering in her community. Through the confidence and support Nancy continues to receive at Oasis, she has chosen to become more active in youth advocacy by joining the local citizen’s advisory council of the New Jersey State Child Placement Advisory Council (CPAC).

 

The Council’s mission is to “monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Child Placement Review Act in promoting the welfare of children placed outside their home in order to advise New Jersey’s three branches of government and advocate for the safety and best interests of children in placement."

Working with other volunteers, Nancy reviews child placement decisions made by the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) for children living in Paterson, making recommendations to the court for safe placement of each child under review. Placement boards have been created in every county. Nancy’s role is to act as an independent advocate for the best interest of each child under review in her community. Nancy credits Oasis with giving her the ability and self-confidence to pursue helping others!

Nancy describes her experience at Oasis: “My heart is full of love for Oasis. Oasis has helped me through a difficult transition dealing with domestic violence. Education and the opportunity to learn English and Computer Skills have helped me tremendously. Workshops on self-esteem provided by Oasis are key to my being successful in my life. For me, Oasis is a homelike place where compassion is cherished. I am able to help other people in my community because of the support I continue to get from Oasis."

Vaneaster Briggs

Vaneaster Briggs spent three years with us studying for her GED back when Oasis was located at 320 Main Street. Before she came to Oasis, Vaneaster had a substance abuse problem and had to move back in with her mother after living successfully on her own for twenty years. Her confidence levels were at an all-time low and she felt her life spinning out of control.
Vaneaster found Oasis and began working with GED teacher Tom Donovan. Vaneaster’s confidence rose slowly as she progressed in her studies and in her addiction treatment. She says she received “jazzy clothing, good food, and real love at Oasis.”

After three years here, Vaneaster succeeded in attaining her GED. Since then, she has gotten her own apartment, is studying for her driving permit, and has just celebrated one year at her job (a local plus-size women’s clothing shop), where she was recently promoted to Assistant Manager.

She is proud of her job accomplishments and is often the top saleswoman with the most commissions. Vaneaster, a grandmother of ten, credits Oasis with raising her self-esteem, enabling her to pursue her dreams with confidence, strength and the hope for a better life.

Vaneaster’s advice for our current students is simply, “All I can say is that Oasis works. It worked for me and it’ll work for you too.”

 

 

 

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