I Can Stand Here Now

There was a time when Maria's family was struggling just to keep going. Food was difficult to secure. There was instability at home. Maria and her sisters stopped attending school. The pressure affected the entire family emotionally. It became difficult to imagine how things would improve. Then support began arriving. The family received mentorship and practical assistance. They were helped to establish a small business. Slowly, the household became more stable. Maria returned to school. Something else changed too. Her confidence. The girl who had lived through uncertainty began finding her voice. She progressed through secondary school and reached Senior Six. She started imagining a future in law. More importantly, she became able to talk about what had happened. Maria could stand in front of people and tell her story. Sometimes encouragement does not make your problems disappear. It gives you enough support to stand up again. And eventually, you may become the person encouraging someone else. Who helped you believe that your circumstances did not have to become your future? This is an editorial retelling of a documented account. Original storyteller: Maria Ndibalekera. Country: Uganda. Source: UNICEF Uganda.