The story of Teresa

Teresa was exploited and badly treated by her aunt with whom she lived after the death of her mother. Around the age of 14, she took to the streets, surviving by selling sweets and begging. Even after the birth of her three children (now aged 7, 5 and 2) she continued to work on the streets: the two younger ones went with her while the eldest stayed with an aunt.

Having been told about Terre des hommes a year ago, Teresa is currently taking part in the “Novos Rumos” project, which was set up by a partner association of Tdh. Together with the people in charge of the organisation, she has drawn up a plan for her future. She is training to become a hairdresser and has been helped to buy the tools (hair brush, hair dryer and scissors) that she needs. She has set up on her own and has turned one of the rooms in her apartment into a hairdressing salon.

Her two children go to nursery and no longer spend every day on the streets. Teresa will complete her training in five months and is already able to earn some of her own money.