HOUSTON -- A Houston-area program is making sure adults have the skills to succeed in new careers by having them go back to school, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Friday.

Gloria Moreno stands a little taller and is more confident. She is close to fulfilling a dream.

"I want to get a career, not generally a job," said Moreno.

She came to the nonprofit group called "Hope After the Journey." It is dedicated to helping adults learn English as a second language and to get a high school diploma.

Moreno came here to complete her GED.

She said, "Well, I got married young. Had kids young, so that stopped me. But now you know, they're grown, so it's time to focus on myself now."

Hope After the Journey's educational programs have been around for five years. Now, the school has opened its own office and classroom in southwest Houston.

"Employers are not welcoming, readily, ones without at least a high school diploma," said founder Pat Griffin. "In this facility, we hope to bring in individuals that made bad decisions dropping out of school by force or by choice, letting them know that now is the opportunity for them to change that position."

Tracy Baskin, president and CEO of the Houston READ Commission, said one out of every three Houstonians is functionally illiterate. That means they may not be able to read a menu, follow street signs or complete basic jobs.

Sharif Ndure moved to the United States from Africa. Now he volunteers as teacher.

He said, "It is one way that you can affect positively what is happening in this community."

Moreno's positive change will come with graduation next year.

She said, "To me, maybe there is hope after the journey."

The school has helped approximately 50 students during the last five years.

Now that Hope After the Journey has its own classroom, it hopes to help about 200 students a year.

The classes meet Fridays and Saturdays for 16 weeks and include 112 hours of instruction.

For more information about the school, visit www.hatj.com.