FATIMA..A LITTLE LIGHT OF HOPE.

I went to a fundraiser for the YWCA last week, and was blown away by some of the speakers. As many of you know, the YWCA offers assistance for women of all ages who are suffering from abuse well as many other programs such as adult education, after-school programs for young women, etc. I listened to several women tell their heartbreaking stories of verbal, emotional and physical abuse from their significant others. One woman left after her abuser went to work, with nothing but the clothes on her and her 14 year old son's back. They found shelter, support and counseling at the YWCA. The Y is currently helping this woman transition from the shelter to a home of her own, thanks to their women in transition program.
I listened to a 13 year old girl tell us how Girls, Inc. (the Y's after school program for adolescent and teenage girls)has increased her self-esteem and helps her make better choices at school and with her friends. A mother gave a powerful testimony about losing her own daughter to domestic violence.
10 women in the state of Tennessee DIED from domestic violence related crimes last year.

There was a beautiful young woman from Rwanda that shared her powerful story. She came to this country after she had lost her family in the genocide that occurred in her homeland. She came with $500, and a promise that help would be waiting. She landed in Nashville to find no one at the airport waiting for her. Her cab driver helped her the next day and compassionately opened up his home to help her get on her feet. As if losing your family and leaving your home wasn't enough, Fatima came here only to be disappointed.

I met Fatima in 2006, she was looking for a new place to live, and had a man in her life and a baby on the way. She is beautiful, with sharp, dark eyes and rich deep skin. Her smile goes from east to west. She settled in to her new place and all seemed well. She showed up in my office one afternoon very pregnant only to inform me that the baby's father had changed his mind and did not want a life with her and their baby to be. She was heartbroken; I remembered asking her if she could go back to her family and she whispered "I can't go back". My company was able to let her leave her place without the enormous costs and penalties involved.

This beautiful young woman on the YWCA platform this morning was Fatima! She completed her GED through the YWCA's adult education program and is working, thriving and looking forward to going to college. I was able to catch up and talk to her. I remembered so vividly our conversation that day when she pregnant, abandoned and alone; I had no idea that she really had nothing in Rwanda to go back to. This woman is a survivor. She is resilient, and her inspiring story humbled me.

I want to go back to the YWCA programs a second and just share a few things, this organization is amazing. Their outreach efforts are so powerful! Check out their site at ywca.org.