“The HOME Project was the first place that felt like a real home. The team gave me hope at a time when I had none. They were the reason I didn’t give up”.
Fabiola, 24 years old, Cameroon
Fabiola fled Cameroon at 17 years old. When she got to the Reception and Identification Center in Kos, she was overwhelmed by fear, anxiety and uncertainty. “My goal was just to survive. I had already faced so many challenges, I was crying all the time, and I knew that I couldn’t count on anybody. I had nothing left”, she recalls.
Pregnant and alone, she had crossed continents in search of a better future for her and her unborn child. In 2019, she arrived at The HOME Project shelter for young girls and teenage mothers –where she finally found the safety, kindness and stability she had yearned for.
“It was like finding grace”, she says. “The team stood by my side throughout my pregnancy and helped me give birth. I didn’t have to worry about food, medical care, or any of the basics. Most importantly, it was the first place that felt like a real home”.
The trauma she had experienced took a heavy toll on her mental health. But through consistent counselling and the guidance of our resident psychologists and Child Protection Unit, Fabiola gradually regained her strength and confidence. “The team gave me hope at a time when I had none. They were the ones who taught me to make decisions for myself. They were the reason I didn’t give up. Honestly, they gave me back my life”, she admits.
When she came of age, Fabiola chose to give back. She joined The HOME Project team as a caregiver, working closely with children who had experienced similar hardships. “We have cared for kids who were abandoned. Kids who were forced to travel with people they do not know. Before coming to the shelter, these children were homeless. We have to help them. I believe that every kid should have the chance to become whatever he or she wants to become”.
A passionate reader and writer, Fabiola initially dreamt of becoming a journalist. A few years later, she moved to Canada to pursue that dream. In the process, though, she discovered that Law better matched her strengths, resilience, and drive to create change.
Today, Fabiola is thriving in Victoria, British Columbia. She is raising her son, working as a court clerk and pursuing an undergraduate degree in Criminology. And just recently, she shared even more joyful news –she got married, and reached out to her The HOME Project family to celebrate this milestone together.
We are incredibly proud of Fabiola –of her growth, her strength and the light she brings into the world.
Her story is a powerful reminder that with protection, compassion and opportunity, even the most challenging beginnings can lead to extraordinary futures.