We first met Mary at our center, where she crafted handmade creams and tried to sell small cosmetic products to support herself. Tall and slender, with a striking presence, she was immediately recognizable from the photos we had received months earlier—taken during a time when she had fallen ill and we were able to offer her some support. Mary is talented, resourceful, and skilled in sewing, yet life has placed many obstacles in her path.
For several weeks, Mary stopped coming to the center. We soon learned why: she was desperately trying to raise money for her daughter’s education. On the day of our shop opening, Mary arrived late, her entire demeanor weighed down by fear and hopelessness. When I hugged her, she remained rigid, as if even the smallest comfort was too heavy to bear. We asked her to return the following Monday and bring her daughter with her. She walked home that evening because even the cost of a motorbike taxi—an Okada—was too much.
Watching her leave, I felt a deep ache of helplessness. Were we truly making the difference we hoped to make?
On Monday, Mary came back with her daughter. Her name is Hallelujah. Hallelujah dreamed of studying Computer Science and had already passed her entrance exam. She spoke clear, beautiful English and radiated quiet determination. The only thing standing between her and her future was €200—the cost of her first year of study.
Hallelujah was accepted into her Computer Science program and began studying with almost nothing. For most of her bachelor’s degree, she had no laptop. She completed her assignments and studied for exams on a basic keypad phone, the kind with physical buttons and a tiny screen. Only later in her program was she finally able to afford a laptop. Despite these challenges, she never gave up. And now, years later, Hallelujah has successfully completed her degree.
Today, she volunteers and helps at HEART for Widows International, giving back to the community that once supported her and inspiring other young women to pursue their dreams with the same courage and resilience she showed.
Your support makes stories like Mary’s and Hallelujah’s possible. A single donation can open the door to education, opportunity, and hope for widows and their children. Together, we can ensure that women like Mary and young students like Hallelujah have the chance to build a life filled with dignity, possibility, and a brighter future.
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