Fall 2023 ReStore Cohort Fundraiser

Hi friends!

In October 2022, we at Sons & Daughters launched a new cohort for our 1-year Aftercare Programme, and we had the pleasure of intaking one trainee! As a part of their time here, they are able to raise funds for their future reintegration plans when they return home. Below is a personal story written by this cohort’s trainee, Xyla, and we hope it will help you get to know a part of her story a little better. Thank you for joining the Fall 2023 cohort on their journey!

Xyla's Journey

In my family, I am the youngest of 5 children. I was 3 when my father left, and I never got the chance to remember anything about him. Since then, all I know is that we all strived to support ourselves to survive. At a young age, we learned how to make an income on our own by cleaning buses and collecting recyclables before and after school to sell. The thought of having "one day, one meal" is what helped us to survive. And because of poverty and ignorance, young women were forced to marry old men at a young age, and they often experienced violence in their marriages. I received threats and felt a lot of fear as a young lady. When I reached the point of hopelessness, I ended up grabbing the opportunity to make money in an easy way out of fear. I decided to work for someone that took advantage of me being an ambitious person. I was exploited and I only made my life more complicated. Worst of all, it drained me mentally. I tried to correct it on my own but I was stuck and just kept running in circles.

This was until I found S&D through a friend who genuinely cared for me and wished me to live a good life, so she referred me for a cleaning position amidst the pandemic. I came over to PH and I was interviewed by April but got rejected for the said position. I was able to ask more questions when April introduced me to what the organization is all about and she invited me to some Drop-in classes. Part of it was the candle-making that made me interested to keep coming. Since then, I found the hope of becoming the new person I want to be and I was able to voice out things about what I have been through. I have been heard and found equality and am able to describe what equity is too. As I always heard, ‘there are lots of windows of opportunity for us to start over’ but the truth is, I needed a door. And here in S&D, it was like an open door for a new beginning.

So, when I look back at my past, the struggles, and the failure I’d been into, it made me feel like belittling myself. I end up always questioning God, “Why do I have to experience this kind of suffering?” Until when I met S&D, and my eyes were opened to the truth. It gives meaning now that maybe my experiences are God’s way for me to prepare and be firm enough to face His biggest reward for me. As the book of Exodus 14:14 says “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” From that moment on I find hope to persevere and continue what I have started since I am on the right track which made me closer to God for me to see my self-worth and stop self-blinding. I realize now that maybe the reason for my existence is to reach out to people and bring the name of God into their life.

My greatest hope and goal in my restaurant is to be the number one trendy hotspot for foodies nationwide. To connect people through the passion for great food and to be a business that can build a strong community where they can gather, eat, shop, work, and be empowered. Most of all, I want to build a legacy that can also change people's lives in a healthy way and create a hub to attract and nurture hospitality talents. I plan to share a 5% net profit on a monthly basis to reach out to women that need help in any sort of way and to provide them with suitable livelihood training to boost their abilities and awaken their self-worth in a positive way. My hopes for the future are to become the person that empowers others so that God can make the impossible things possible.

Here is the break-down for how I will be using the fundraised money (if you would like to know more details I would be happy to share my formal business budget, just contact my caseworker, Charlotte):

Personal expenses after return for 3 months: $13,667.00

Business start-up expenses: $36,749.00

Start-up assets: $11,590.00

Monthly costs during start-up: $13,143.00