Amanda Paulino has worked as a dedicated intern for Becky’s Fund since January! We are awed by her motivation and positivity, and will very much miss her here in the office. Read her final reflection below:

My Time at Becky’s Fund

Amanda Paulino

My time at Becky’s Fund – what a wild ride it has been! When I first stepped into our office, all the way back in January, I had no idea that I would leave feeling like a completely different person. I first became interested in the position because I have been interested in women’s rights since I was a little girl, and I wanted to gain the knowledge necessary to make a change in the Dominican Repiublic. To no one’s surprise, I was able to achieve these goals – however, this internship provided me with so much more.

As a Programs and Communications Intern, I was responsible for the Becky’s Fund media accounts and aiding with our domestic violence awareness programs, Becoming Your Own Heroine and Men of Code. I was fortunate enough to arrive at Becky’s Fund at a time that truly allowed me to expand my horizons and gain experience in fields I had never even considered. Thanks to Becky’s Fund, I mastered graphic design, edited websites, and organized and promoted a series of events leading up to our most important event in the first half of the year, a charity gala at the Virginia Gold Cup. I never thought I was capable of doing some of things I achieved in this seven-month period (raising $22,000 in three days comes to mind!), but my internship at Becky’s Fund has opened my eyes to the career choices I could possibly make!

Leaving the District of Columbia is a bittersweet experience for me, but my time at Becky’s Fund allows me to look back with a smile: My time at the organization has made me a more confident, resilient woman, and has proved to me that the paths my life could take are not as straight and narrow as I originally thought. I couldn’t have asked for a better internship experience – I had incredible people by my side, countless tasks to fulfill in all segments of the workforce, and an ever-growing love and knowledge for one of the causes I most fervently believe in: Now that the winds are leading me back to Santo Domingo, I hope to continue the work I began at Becky’s Fund and change the public’s perspective on intimate partner violence. Most importantly, I would like to thank the woman herself, Becky Lee – thank you so much for having faith in me and trusting my work: I sincerely hope that my time at Becky’s Fund made a difference.