Meet Theresa. When her family was separated, she was given false promises about receiving support for school and was forced into working. Her parents were separated and her relatives told her that her mother was now “well-off.” After being told to go study where her mother was, Theresa left her hometown to begin the journey. It was far away, and in her young naivete she did not realize she did not have the money to make the trip. She was already on her way, so found a job as a helper for 7 months to save up to finish the journey.
However, when she finally arrived where her mother was, she found the promises about studying to be lies. She could not study but once again had to find a job. There, she worked as a saleswoman with a very low salary. Theresa had to borrow money from her mom to cover basic food and pay her back with the little money she was making. She was determined to leave the situation, so did her best to save up. After some time, she finally had enough to move and get a fresh start.
She continued working in sales and filling in different jobs to make ends meet in this new place for three years. She was scared, confused, and heartbroken trying to make a living after being on the move for so long. Theresa decided that moving home after all these years would be the best option for her. She now had a child, but the father was not in the picture so she needed to be able to support her family.
As she settled in at home, the days went by and she struggled to find work. She finally found a job at Dignity which turned her life around. She gained the strength for each day and people around her to care for her. Even after all these years away, she was welcomed with open arms and succeeded in her role. Theresa remains committed to giving her children the stability, care, and education she did not receive.
