Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — A local charity is helping women gain skills to get themselves out of poverty by teaching them skills they can take into a workplace at no cost.
Give Me A Chance, a Catholic charity started by Sister Maria Nguyen, teaches skills such as sewing and business so women can become self-sufficient and gain better self-esteem.
As a member of Daughters of Charity, a group that focuses on serving poor people, Nguyen was sent to Ogden to support women and children in the area.
Give Me A Chance provides services like a free counseling center, classes, an after-school program and more.
Women who take the sewing classes then have the opportunity to practice their business, retail and alteration skills by working at DeMarillac Formal Attire, which carries dresses, tuxedos and accessories for formal occasions.
"Beside teaching them, we also create opportunities so they can learn," executive director Nguyen said. "And when they get to the point that they feel confident about themselves, they can move on to start the new business or do business at home."
These women are performing alterations for clients and managing other work at the store, and they learn to be confident in their skill.
Nguyen said it is very important for them to create hands-on experience so the women have a place to practice their skills.
One woman who worked with Give Me A Chance for five years just opened her own alterations shop in Roy.
Maracele Romero started as a student in the program, became an assistant, and eventually a teacher.
Romero said she feels more independent and Give Me A Chance taught her to help others with talent.
She said Give Me A Chance is a "great opportunity for people who need to be independent to learn how to do something different than being at home."
Her shop, Mary's Alterations, is located at 5800 South 1900 West.
Nguyen said she believes they cannot help these women if the women cannot help themselves, and rather than giving them a handout, they give them a hand up.
We're not trying to change the world … but do little things with love.
–Sister Maria Nguyen
Give Me A Chance also provides an after-school program to help the women's children with their education, since many of the parents are busy and also don't have the skills to help the kids with their homework.
They found many children to be two grades behind in math and reading, and Nguyen said it's really important that they learn, because from her experience, she said, people can't go anywhere without education.
Though Give Me A Chance is a Catholic charity, Nguyen said it's not about trying to convert people but to build up through service and be there to support people.
"We're not trying to change the world … but do little things with love," Nguyen said.
The Give Me A Chance learning center is located at 2913 Grant Ave., and De Marillac Formal Attire is at 2620 Washington Blvd.
To learn more about the program and the upcoming A Stitch In Time charity event, visit their website or Facebook page.
