Maria works for the cleaning company that was started for project Wallflower. With this work she can provide for her family and support the rehab center where she got free of her drug addiction. This is her story:
I grew up on the street. When I was 15, the older boys made me try drugs for the first time. Because of this, I started sleeping badly and skipping school. After graduating, I got pregnant with my first child. I lived with a man who was not good for me. During my pregnancy, I decided to go back to my parents, because he kept abusing me. During this difficult period, I started using drugs again.
I met another man who was good to me and my son. Until we started living together. Then the violence started again. I loved him and really hoped that things would get better for us. In the meantime, I was pregnant with my second child. However, I was often abused, which made me run away from reality and use drugs.
But then, one day, for the first time in my life, I was offered help. Together with my children, I was allowed to go through rehabilitation. This gave me hope for a different, new life. I grabbed it with both hands and went to the “House of Mercy for Women with Children” in the city of Korosten. This opened a door for me to a new start! The activities of the center touched me and I became part of the team. We want to give everyone a chance to learn and to see that God loves them. What is very valuable to me is that my children now live in a safe environment and that I can be an example for many women today. In the middle of their problems, I can tell them that there is a way out…
Recently we got a new chance! We were allowed to take on a new profession and earn money for our support. We were trained and created a group of professional cleaners “Mrs. Olena”. This is a completely new experience for me, both for my personal development and for supporting the center. I have been working in a team of cleaners for six months now and have learned a lot for myself. I dream of having a personal team of cleaners and hope to one day lead a center myself.