“I need to go back to school and finish it. Knowledge is power”
Ruth, 20 years old, Democratic Republic of Congo
Ruth was 17 years old when she arrived in Greece from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), carrying her newborn baby in her arms. Alone in a new country and facing the uncertainty of displacement, she found refuge in The HOME Project shelter for unaccompanied girls and teenage mothers. “When I arrived, my baby was just 4 months old. Now he goes to school and I have a job. The HOME Project helped us get here”, she reflects.
Over the past three years, Ruth has steadily built a life in Athens —step by step. Today, she lives in one of our 18+ transitional homes, designed to support refugee youth as they move toward independent living. She works as a cleaner at one of our shelters for teenage boys, a role that some might find challenging, but Ruth approaches it with both patience and a sense of humor.
“Between raising my child and working at the shelter, my patience has grown”, she laughs, pointing to a crumpled juice box left by the TV. “Why would you not just throw it out? But, I don’t mind. After all, they’re kids”.
She has found community in her work and at home. “The boys respect me, and I respect them back”, she says. Some Saturdays, Ruth brings her son with her. He settles in among the older boys, watching cartoons and playing video games, while she steals a few moments of rest. Her life is full and demanding. Ruth balances work, parenting, and navigating the complexities of healthcare, taxes, and banking in a country that often still feels foreign and unwelcoming. But she’s never truly alone. “If I need help with anything, I know that I can text or call someone at The HOME Project head office or ask one of my colleagues. I’m so lucky to have such a solid support system”.
Outside of work, Ruth is also an artistic spirit. She has participated in a fashion design project facilitated by SOFFA- Social Fashion Factory, co-developing a collection that celebrated her heritage and personal journey. Nevertheless, Ruth’s ambitions stretch far beyond clothing or cleaning. Her dream is to become a social worker in order to help girls and young women like herself.
“In my home country, the war persists. There are a lot of young women and children who don’t have families or any sort of help. One day, I hope to be able to offer them protection, food, access to education and the ability to make their own decisions, like The HOME Project did for me”, she admits. She already gives what she can. One Christmas, Ruth used her bonus to buy toys for children in her neighborhood. “My son has toys, and they don’t. It’s not everything, but it’s enough for now”.
She also recognizes that completing her education is crucial. “I need to go back to school and finish it. Knowledge is power”, she emphasizes.