Lighting Up Her Passion — A Migrant Woman’s Path to Healing

"I'm not ready to go back to work yet," said Angie (a pseudonym), her face clouded with uncertainty about the future.

Angie is a migrant worker living in a transitional shelter operated by the Garden of Hope Foundation’s Migrant Service Center (GOH-Migrants). After experiencing mistreatment by a previous employer, she was left physically and emotionally wounded. Her recovery has taken time, and she has stayed in the shelter longer than most others, unable to return to work just yet.

But something began to change when Angie joined a handcraft workshop offered at the shelter. During one session, they were making decorations for Eid. Angie was the first to finish—and not only that, she helped others complete their work too, quickly becoming the “go-to” person in class.

Recognizing her artistic talent, the social worker encouraged Angie to explore her creative interests even more. They provided her with materials and space to express herself freely. Everyone who saw her artwork was amazed—not only by her skill but also by the way each piece seemed to carry her love for her homeland and her unique, imaginative spirit.

A Gift from the Heart, A Step Toward a New Chapter

By mid-August, Angie decided it was time to return to her home country. But because she had been waiting on the outcome of a legal case for so long without income, she couldn’t afford the cost of returning home. Thankfully, with the social worker’s help, they secured emergency assistance from a private organization to cover her travel expenses.

Before leaving, Angie gave the shelter a handmade curtain—a heartfelt gift full of meaning. It wasn’t just a decoration; it was a blessing. A wish for everyone at the shelter to keep moving forward with strength and stability. And of course, we all sent our warmest wishes with her, as she stepped into a new and unknown chapter of her life.

Support That Truly Connects

“When someone is in need, we do our best to provide,” say the team at the Garden of Hope. They believe in offering the best possible care within their capacity.

It's rare in life to have a moment like Angie’s—when someone can freely and fully throw themselves into a passion, without pressure or expectation, like a child discovering the world again. For the social worker who accompanied her, it was deeply rewarding to witness this special moment in Angie’s journey.