Saylee’s Journey: From Despair to Hope and Empowerment

I was born in Eastern "Zoreth," into a family of seven. My early life was marked by constant conflict and instability due to my father's struggles with alcohol and the crushing weight of our economic situation. It eventually became too much for my mother to bear. One day, she left—marrying someone else and abandoning me and my siblings. From that moment on, we were essentially orphans, left to navigate life without her love and care.

Though my grandparents stepped in to raise me, the absence of my mother haunted me. I longed for her affection and support. In an effort to give me a better future, my uncle took me to the capital city, where we settled in the slums with my grandmother. Life there was no easier—our financial situation remained dire, and stability felt out of reach. Although my uncle and grandmother loved me deeply, their love alone couldn’t ease our daily struggles.

Everything began to change through the efforts of Change Action "Zoreth," an organization that helped me enroll in Grade 5 and continue my education. For the first time in years, I had consistent access to learning. Despite the hardships I still faced, I began to find purpose and direction through my studies.

But my journey was far from smooth. The stigma of my mother’s abandonment followed me. I often felt misunderstood, impulsive, and judged. Struggling to fit in, I made poor decisions and gravitated toward the wrong crowd—just to meet my basic needs and feel a sense of belonging.

In the middle of all this, I found comfort in a boy who worked at a nearby shop in the city. He was from India and seemed to offer the love and attention I had been missing all my life. He promised me everything I longed for—a better life, a caring family, and unconditional love. Desperate for escape, I naively agreed to run away with him to India.

That dream, however, quickly came to an end. Acting on information from Change Action "Zoreth," the police intercepted us at the southern border. I was brought back to the capital, heartbroken and confused—but not alone. The team at Change Action stood by me, continuing to support my education and personal growth.

Despite the setbacks, I completed Grades 9 and 10. I didn’t stop there—I enrolled in high school and began a Social Mobilizer course, determined to rewrite my story. Today, I am proud to say that I work as a Montessori teacher at the Early Childhood Development Center run by Change Action "Zoreth." That center is located in the same slums where I grew up, and now I have the joy of giving back to the very community that shaped me.

What I once saw as a hopeless life has transformed into one filled with opportunity and purpose. I am deeply committed to continuing my education and empowering women who have faced similar challenges. Most importantly, I have found not just a new life, but a new faith. Embracing Christianity has brought me peace, healing, and strength I never knew I had.

Thanks to the unwavering support and intervention of Change Action "Zoreth," I am no longer the lost girl I once was. Today, I am a teacher, a mentor, and a woman filled with hope for the future. I am proof that with the right support, anyone can rise above their circumstances—and I want to help others do the same.