(Our former client, Gastonie Kitwa Lunda, is featured in March on our 2015 calendar, on sale for $5 each in our retail stores.)
Gastonie Kitwa Lunda, a political refugee, came to Des Moines in 2011 without her family and speaking little English. She had worked 26 years in her native Republic of Congo as an executive secretary, but she had few applicable job skills, and the job market here at the time was dismal.
She was directed to Goodwill of Central Iowa, where she participated in a work training program. She then was hired by our Jordan Creek retail store, where she now works sorting and hanging up clothing donations. She sends much of the money she earns home to her family.
Gastonie is grateful for the help she has gotten from Goodwill.
“At Goodwill, they are helpful,” Gastonie said. “They help people who don’t have jobs. Those people can now be stable because they get a little money. They learn a job instead of staying at home, doing nothing.”
While in training, Gastonie worked with Goodwill mobile trainer Jack Croft, who praises her for her hard work and diligence.
“It’s rare to have a client who puts absolutely everything into a task,” Jack said. “Gastonie was completely focused on learning because it was a part of her overall goal of helping her family. …She was willing to put forth whatever effort was necessary to succeed.”
Gastonie continues to focus on improving her English speaking and writing skills, and she hopes to be promoted to a clerk position in the store.
