We spoke with a young woman and mother, who has been living at the foundation for many years and agreed to share her story.
Question: What can you tell us about yourself?
Answer: My name is Maria Fernanda. I’m 21 years old and I’ve been here since 2014. Well, Maria Paola (the director of the foundation) has known me since I was in my mom’s belly. I came to the foundation because my mom was killed. She was killed in Ciudad Bolívar. And from then on, I was left alone, because my mom was always the one who took care of me. I came here and started studying. Then I got a boyfriend and I left, and I had my daughter. But then I came back because… well, he used to hit me, and I couldn’t live like that anymore. So I came back here, finished high school, and Maria Paola was helping me with the university stuff, but I failed a few classes. So now I’m saving up to pay for the next semester and keep studying.
Right now I’m helping out in the kitchen. I’m really grateful to all of you and to Maria Paola. Because ever since I met her, she’s been the person who's there when I’m not doing well, and every time I call her, she’s always there. And everyone else too, because they’re all like a team, you know? I feel good here. I feel like I’m part of a family. It’s not like you can’t laugh or be yourself — I can be me. And even though I’ve made mistakes and all that, every day I keep trying to be better — for myself, for my daughter, and to be a good example for her.
Question: And did you finish school while you were here at the foundation?
Answer: Yes, I graduated from high school. I was already 18. And by then it was too late to go to a regular school, so I graduated by validating (through special exams).
Question: And what are you studying now?
Answer: I’m studying criminal investigation.
Question: Criminal investigation, like working for the prosecution office?
Answer: To be a forensic technician and do criminology. I’ve liked this career since I was little. It always caught my attention. And, well, I liked it even more after what happened to my mom. Her case was just left like that — no one investigated anything, and it was never resolved. That’s why I like this career. On the one hand because I really like it, and on the other hand to help people who’ve been through the same thing. Well, they don’t really do anything about murders like that.
Question: And how old is your daughter?
Answer: She’s two and a half. Right now she’s in daycare.
Question: What do you want to do to give her a better life?
Answer: First I want to get back into university, stay in university, and be more committed and more responsible. Maybe I didn’t really know how to handle all that responsibility before — I didn’t know how to manage everything. But if God gives me the chance to go back to university, I’m going to do it with all my heart and all the responsibility. I want to be a good example for my daughter and work for her.
Question: How old were you when you got pregnant?
Answer: I was 18… I was studying from home. I was already pregnant when I was finishing high school.
Question: And do you see yourself eventually moving out and leaving the foundation?
Answer: Yes, of course… that’s what I dream about the most — to be able to finish university here so I can save up for my own place, for an apartment. To have my daughter, give her a better example. That’s what I want the most. Because being here is good, but there are other people who need the opportunity even more. I like being here, but I long to be out there, to be independent, not depending on others.
Thank you for the conversation.