Seven years ago, Katherine came from Bolivia to the U.S. to study. When she would go back to visit family, she was shocked to find signs all around her saying “No golpeas a la mujer” meaning “Don’t hit women."

Why exactly was a statement like that, that seemed so obvious to Katherine, being advertised all over Bolivia?

According to the Center for the Information and Development of Women, 70 percent of women in Bolivia suffer from some form of domestic abuse. What’s worse, many abuses are not reported at all.

In the U.S., Katherine had met a priest who was interested in visiting Bolivia to do mission work. He ended up visiting Bolivia and meeting Katherine’s mother. Equally shocked by the problem of domestic abuse, the priest urged both Katherine and her mother to open a shelter for abused women.

“We didn’t want to do it,” Katherine says. She remembers telling the priest “my mom has no education…I have no money!” 

The priest went on to change both Katherine’s and her mother’s mind, urging them to trust God and take a leap of faith with the new venture. Now, Katherine says that “being able to help now is great, because… maybe you don’t have the resources but others do."

Working in AL DÍA's sales department after graduating from Immaculata University, she serves as a reminder to everyone here in the office to help others, take faith in your own abilities, and of opportunities that billenials have to bring together diverse sections of the world.