“You Changed My Life For Good.” – Fatmata’s Story

November 21, 2023

The Mattia Family’s Story of Change.
Just like any parents, Fatmata and her husband had great hopes and dreams for their four children. They had a happy life together and were excited about the future. Unfortunately, those dreams came crashing down when Fatmata’s husband died a tragic death. Now as a single mother, Fatmata Mattia wanted her children to have access to a better life – school, food, healthcare, and above all to stay together as a family, but extreme poverty kept her stuck. Living in an overcrowded, unfinished house on the outskirts of town with 12 other people, her children stopped going to school because she could no longer afford the fees. She tried every day to change the course of her life for the better but extreme poverty remained the greatest obstacle between her and her dreams of a good life for her family. Having spent two years moving from place to place looking for a way out, she was losing hope. Her family was on the verge of separation — she felt like her only option was losing her children to the streets or being forced to send them all away – scattered to different orphanages across the country so at least they could go to school and have food to eat. “I could feel loneliness and darkness on most days… I was losing my mind, especially when I started seeing my children being drawn to the streets for survival.” But here is the truth – Transformation can always happen to even the most vulnerable people on this planet. Through the generosity of supporters and friends of HCW like you, the Mattia Family was rescued from despair by the Child Reintegration Centre. She was empowered to become the hero of her children’s story, the hero of her own story. Her hope was restored. The CRC enrolled Fatmata in the Family Strengthening and Microfinance program, where she benefited from parenting workshops, learned how to heal trauma in her family, and learned basic financial and business skills – saving, budgeting, and planning. These skills improved capacity and resilience.She graduated from the program and went on to turn her situation around for the better. In Fatmata’s own words”…Those days are gone. Those days when I would feel myself crying from the inside, wondering about my children’s future. How I would ever be able to support them, and for me to be proud of myself as their mother… Now, our story has changed for good.” With a microloan of $120, she got a shop and started her tailoring business. She was able to get a better apartment for her family, and her children were no longer sleeping on the floor. All her kids are now back in school and doing very well. Even more than that – taking the training to heart, Fatmata became a valued business leader – mentoring others. She hired four employees whose families were also in critical situations. Her business continues to expand, and she leads a group of new business leaders, and a savings-and-loans collaboration to foster personal independence through community inter-dependency. The Mattia Family is just one of those hundreds of families you are changing their lives forever. $50-$75 can help a social worker trace the family of a street-connected child. $100 can strengthen an entire family with parenting and business education and microloan services. $150 donation can rescue a street-connected child and enroll a vulnerable youth-led family in an empowerment program.
What can you give today to help a family break free from the stronghold of extreme poverty?

The Mattia Family’s Story of Change.

Just like any parents, Fatmata and her husband had great hopes and dreams for their four children. They had a happy life together and were excited about the future. Unfortunately, those dreams came crashing down when Fatmata’s husband died a tragic death.

Now as a single mother, Fatmata Mattia wanted her children to have access to a better life – school, food, healthcare, and above all to stay together as a family, but extreme poverty kept her stuck. Living in an overcrowded, unfinished house on the outskirts of town with 12 other people, her children stopped going to school because she could no longer afford the fees. She tried every day to change the course of her life for the better but extreme poverty remained the greatest obstacle between her and her dreams of a good life for her family. Having spent two years moving from place to place looking for a way out, she was losing hope. Her family was on the verge of separation — she felt like her only option was losing her children to the streets or being forced to send them all away – scattered to different orphanages across the country so at least they could go to school and have food to eat.

“I could feel loneliness and darkness on most days… I was losing my mind, especially when I started seeing my children being drawn to the streets for survival.”

But here is the truth – Transformation can always happen to even the most vulnerable people on this planet.

Through the generosity of supporters and friends of HCW like you, the Mattia Family was rescued from despair by the Child Reintegration Centre.

She was empowered to become the hero of her children’s story, the hero of her own story. Her hope was restored. The CRC enrolled Fatmata in the Family Strengthening and Microfinance program, where she benefited from parenting workshops, learned how to heal trauma in her family, and learned basic financial and business skills – saving, budgeting, and planning. These skills improved capacity and resilience.She graduated from the program and went on to turn her situation around for the better.

In Fatmata’s own words”…Those days are gone. Those days when I would feel myself crying from the inside, wondering about my children’s future. How I would ever be able to support them, and for me to be proud of myself as their mother… Now, our story has changed for good.”

With a microloan of $120, she got a shop and started her tailoring business.

She was able to get a better apartment for her family, and her children were no longer sleeping on the floor. All her kids are now back in school and doing very well.

Even more than that – taking the training to heart, Fatmata became a valued business leader – mentoring others. She hired four employees whose families were also in critical situations. Her business continues to expand, and she leads a group of new business leaders, and a savings-and-loans collaboration to foster personal independence through community inter-dependency.

The Mattia Family is just one of those hundreds of families you are changing their lives forever.

$50-$75 can help a social worker trace the family of a street-connected child.
$100 can strengthen an entire family with parenting and business education and microloan services.
$150 donation can rescue a street-connected child and enroll a vulnerable youth-led family in an empowerment program.

What can you give today to help a family break free from the stronghold of extreme poverty?