Avivo program enables mom to support her son and start cosmetology career

Kamilla is excited for her new career and new direction in life thanks to a unique program at Avivo that helps homemakers who need to pivot and fully provide for themselves and their children.

Kamilla moved to Minnesota from Kazakhstan for marriage. A difficult divorce forced her into a situation to immediately support herself and her four-year-old son. Kamilla urgently needed to become proficient in English and find work.

After being linked to a Washington County social worker, she was guided to Avivo’s Minnesota Family Resiliency Partnership program. Avivo counselors specialize in helping homemakers, who suddenly need to provide for themselves and their families, find employment and services they need.

“Avivo came to help me. It felt good, like I wasn’t alone. Like you won’t sink. Like someone is helping you,” shares Kamilla. “They helped me with any problems that I had.”

“Avivo came to help me. It felt good, like I wasn’t alone. Like you won’t sink. Like someone is helping you,” shares Kamilla. “They helped me with any problems that I had.”

With Avivo’s support, Kamilla was able to enroll in citizenship and English classes, where she gained confidence as an English-speaker. She also worked with her career counselor to obtain funding for and to earn her cosmetology license, complete her laser technician training, and earn her esthetician certification. She continued working with her Avivo career counselors for resume creation, networking, mock interviews and job search assistance.

“My life is much better now… Thanks to Avivo staff, I understand that I won’t ever be alone again,” Kamilla says. “They helped me find my strength and independence. They showed me that I can do this.”

“I thought it was the end of the world for me before I went to Avivo… Now, I recommend them to any woman with trouble in their life. They changed my life and helped me find my way.”

“I thought it was the end of the world for me before I went to Avivo… Now, I recommend them to any woman with trouble in their life. They changed my life and helped me find my way.”

Kamilla hopes to start and own her own healing spa someday. She’s proud of the life she’s built for herself and her son and says that she couldn’t have done it without the support of Avivo.

“Avivo showed me that I am strong and capable of anything I put my mind to… I’m excited for what the future holds and am grateful for the help I received when I needed it the most.”