A Strong Woman on Her Way to Independence
In the spring of 2021, we met Fathema and her seven-year-old son in a playground in Brooklyn. Fathema and her son were living in a local shelter for victims of domestic violence (“DV”). Fathema needed help and some local women rallied to create Women4Women. Our 501(c)(3) organization would allow us to fundraise to build sustainable growth and independence for Fathema, and other women in need after her. She told us she wanted to turn a new leaf and provide a stable life for her son, which she said would at the very least require her to leave the shelter system and get a steady job. She asked us in a genuine way for help.
After speaking with her, we drew on the resources of our heartwarming, generous community. Thanks, in great part, also to the generous donation of a local lifestyle brand, by December of 2021, we raised $25,000 for Fathema. We found Fathema’s legal help and counseling. We walked her through how to enroll her son in school so that her son could join a nurturing social environment and begin to thrive academically. We also helped her son adjust to his new life outside of school by tutoring him in reading and writing, coordinating playdates, and enrolling him in safe and inspiring after-school programs. He eventually made friends with other kids, and after a couple months, he was smiling once again.
Against the backdrop of this, Fathema and her son were being shuffled around from shelter to shelter, finding themselves in unsafe conditions and with no kitchen. After months of searching for an apartment, we moved Fathema and her son from her shelter into an apartment funded by CityPHEPS, a rent supplement program administered by New York City. Through the generous donations of members of our community, we were able to furnish her new, sunny two-bedroom apartment, which has enough space for her to cook and study, and for her son to play.
Then we focused on helping Fathema obtain a well-paying job. In the fall of 2021, she enrolled in a graduate program in health sciences in Brooklyn to become a medical assistant. She is a straight-A student with a passion for the medical field. We’ve been supporting her in various ways, including purchasing her a laptop and textbooks and paying for her tuition. We’re continuing to advocate on her behalf with landlords, volunteer organizations, and local city council representatives, to help ease the cost of her and her son’s basic needs while she’s in school.
Fathema graduated with flying colors in the summer of 2022 and took an exam to earn her certification as a nursing assistant. In October she started a full-time position as a medical assistant, which she’s very excited about. She is drawing blood and performing EKG with the kind of confidence and control that only comes with years of experience. Her little boy has tons of friends, laughs, plays, throws soccer balls in the house, and breaks a vase, life as usual for a 7-year-old child.
Fathema recently became American and obtained her driving license, which will provide her with yet another avenue toward independence.
She joined the board of W4W, and through her advocacy and leadership, she provides a unique and unparalleled perspective to grow our programs and inspires and supports more DV survivors. She is giving back to the community, big time!
This story illustrates our hope to join forces to create a chain of solidarity where women who have benefitted from W4W support and are now strong enough to help others can in turn inspire a new generation of DV survivors for positive change. A true gift that keeps on giving.
