I grew up in a family that was stuck in the cycle of poverty – both my parents worked very hard to support us, but it was a constant struggle. It came to a point where they were choosing to remain hungry just so that my siblings and I could eat and didn’t starve.

After watching my parents struggle financially and become weaker for years, I knew that I needed to help provide for them and my siblings, which is why I immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 with the goal of finding work and helping to provide my family with a better life.

The move was not easy – I worked several jobs in order to send money back home as well as support myself, and I had to learn how to navigate and understand Canadian culture. These are not things that an average teenager worries about.

I eventually settled into my new life, and was ready to start my own family, hoping to give them the life that I never had growing up.

Little did I know, my life was going to change for the worse.

My husband and I had three children together and although he had a good job and salary, he never wanted to spend any money on the kids. He would force our children to survive only on oatmeal and milk, and would lose his temper and scream if I ever tried to give them fruits, meat, or any other nutritional food.

He even prevented me from buying new clothes for the children, and only allowed them to share used clothing.

Our children didn’t deserve to be purposefully denied nutritious food and basic essentials. It broke my heart to see them suffer, and I knew that their only chance at a better life was if we left.

I was trying to figure out where to go next, when a friend of mine told me about Nisa Homes. The support we received from the ladies at Nisa Homes was tremendous. While I looked for a job to get back on my feet, they provided us with financial support, with which I was finally able to afford healthy food for my children! I’m now making plans to launch my own catering business which I hope to grow into a restaurant.

I’m so grateful to have found Nisa Homes when I needed it the most!