For some of our girls, like Tanya, experiences with the men in their lives have been anything but positive. Tanya’s father left her mother before she was born. And though her mother had boyfriends every now and then, Tanya never really had a father figure in her life.

The closest thing Tanya had to a father was her older cousin. He often checked in on Tanya and her mother to make sure they had enough food and that their bills were paid. Though she loved her cousin, Tanya knew that he was in a gang and that people in the neighborhood were afraid of him. She was glad he looked out for her, but she was afraid of him, too, sometimes.

Tanya’s mother had a boyfriend whom Tanya was afraid of as well. The two would often fight, and he would call Tanya’s mother terrible names. He even hit her. Tanya’s mother would kick him out after these fights, but it never took long for him to return.

Tanya couldn’t understand why her mother continued to be with somebody who called her names and hurt her so much. Sometimes, it seemed like the police came to her house every week. It hurt Tanya deeply to watch her mother endure such pain.

One day, Tanya returned home from school and her mother and her boyfriend were already fighting. As Tanya approached, her mother’s boyfriend pushed her away. Tanya fell to the floor, and she hit her head so hard that she blacked out. When she woke up, there were police officers in her living room, and she was taken to the hospital. 

At the hospital, Tanya met a social worker. It was clear from the police records that this was not the first instance of domestic violence in her home. Something needed to change.

The social worker explained some alternative living situations, one of which was Mercy Home. When she had an opportunity to visit the Home and meet our coworkers and the other girls – Tanya knew it was the right place for her. 

When Tanya moved into Mercy Home, it was like a weight came off her shoulders, she said. Removed from the dangers of the gangs in her neighborhood and the dangers in her home, she felt like she could finally relax. 

But while Tanya had no problem forming bonds with the other girls at Mercy Home and our female coworkers, she struggled to communicate with men. At school, her male teachers found that she was very shy around them and rarely participated during their classes. 

Yet through events at the Home, such as our annual Men’s Barbecue in the summer, Tanya has developed positive relationships with male role models. At school, Tanya’s teachers have noticed that she carries herself with a new sense of confidence, and isn’t afraid to participate in any of her classes. If it weren’t for Mercy Home, Tanya said it may have been difficult for her to trust men for the rest of her life. 

These special transformations are only possible because of your friendship and support. Thank you for helping children like Tanya find peace in their lives.

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed