Vinfen's Education Program Continues to Enrich Lives
Assistant Program Director Kim Barros enrolled in Vinfen’s Education Program last September, after seven years with the organization’s Amory Street Apartment Program, which supports people with HIV/AIDS and other diagnoses. Her story is one of sadness and discouragement, followed by determination, hard work, and fulfillment.
After leaving high school, Kim thought about college. But she didn’t have the funds to pursue it, and she knew nothing about ascertaining financial aid. Kim’s story is not unique in that she got sidetracked from her aspirations. Along the way, life presented her with many obstacles—e.g., her husband died tragically, she was left a single parent of a son, and finances were a constant source of anxiety.
Kim’s connection with Vinfen began when her uncle contracted AIDS and moved into the Amory Street residence. In 1993, there was an opening at the program for an Administrative Assistant. Kim applied for, and was given, the job. Within months, Kim was promoted to House Manager. Sadly, Kim’s uncle passed away not long after, but she felt blessed to be by his side. Within six months, six more residents died, and Kim found herself in an acute care-giving situation. Her responsibilities kept growing, and she was promoted to Assistant Program Director. Kim enjoyed the variety of her job duties (e.g., direct care, clinical, financial planning), but she felt the need to enhance these skills. Kim’s dream of returning to school never abated, but finances were still an issue, and she didn’t want to be burdened with loans.
When Kim was told about Vinfen’s Education Program, she balked at the thought of dealing with motherhood, work, and school. Last year, Kim decided to give it a try and enrolled at Roxbury Community College. It was “the best year of my life. I did not know how much I would love being in school, learning, and seeing new things. Had it not been for Vinfen’s Education Program, I probably would still be dreaming about going to school. It has been the most rewarding thing I have done for my life.”
Kim says that she is “dazzled” by the idea of obtaining better oratory skills and learning how to compose well-written documents. She is equally enthusiastic about studying psychology, accounting, law, and history.
Nourished by education, Kim, now a mother of three, hopes to be an example to her children so that “they can grow up knowing that you can do anything with knowledge, desire, and hope.” She is thankful that her determination for higher education met the opportunity presented by Vinfen’s Education Program, and she knows that the people she supports benefit from her education as much as she does.
