Ruth's Story

Throughout Ruth’s* life, she has faced many significant challenges and wonderfully she has been able to receive life changing opportunities.It’s true that breaking the cycle of poverty is not a simple thing to do. When people are in difficult circumstances, change takes time. It takes resources, and people, and lots of love and care. It’s not something any of us can solve by ourselves, and yet, we can all play a part! 

Here is a story of one of our trainees from Timor Leste, Ruth*. Throughout her life, she has faced many significant challenges, and wonderfully she has been able to receive life changing opportunities. 

Firstly, someone needed to rescue her from the abuse she experienced as a child. This alone is a hugely significant story! How wonderful that she didn’t need to stay there. 

Then she needed a safe place to recover and heal, and start to move through her high school education. This part of her life has story after story of love, care, opportunity and hope. 

Following this, there was excitement and hope about being able to go to university! What a wonderful opportunity! Yet although Ruth was able to complete several terms, she and her family were unable to sustain this as they simply could not afford it. Money plays a hugely influential role. 

At this point in her life, another organization was able to support Ruth, providing her with accommodation and a job - another significant moment! After 10 joyful months they connected her with one of our vocational training schools, and Ruth has now joyfully undertaken hairdressing training. 

This hairdressing training has been significant for Ruth, providing her a pathway that was otherwise not accessible to her. It is not her whole journey, but a small step. As she is now able to earn an income with this skill, she is working towards furthering her university training.