From Housing to Entrepreneurship: The Story of Val, a Maisha Mom Who Now Shines with Her Own Light

In 2023, Val arrived at Fundación Maisha’s shelter home facing a challenging pregnancy and filled with uncertainty about her future. Today, one year later, Val has not only resumed her studies, but also leads her own crochet business, ranks second in her class in business studies, and dreams of studying fashion design or professional pastry.

How do you write a story like this? With love, support, community… and a pair of wooden knitting needles.

Weaving a Future

“One day I was at the shelter—I don’t even remember what we were doing—but I grabbed two wooden pencils and some yarn and started to knit,” recalls Antonia Cuevas, a volunteer from the Maisha Welcome Program. “The moms got interested and asked me to teach them. Me! The same girl who, back in school, made such mismatched slippers that I tried stretching them out so the teacher wouldn’t notice. We laughed so much!”

That spontaneous moment became the spark for something bigger. Antonia reached out to her former teacher, who sent a bag full of knitting needles, crochet hooks, and patterns from Chile. Antonia’s grandmother and mother also joined in, and the art of weaving began to pass from hand to hand… until it reached Val.

A Thread That Transforms

Val fell in love with crochet. She learned, practiced, and perfected her technique. Today, she produces and sells her own handmade garments. She even taught her mother, and together they’ve found a way to generate income and strengthen their bond.

Thanks to Maisha’s business classes, Val also learned to save, manage her small business’s finances, and dream up new goals. “I’m doing my best,” she says proudly. “My experience with Maisha was good. I learned about sisterhood. I had peace when I was there. Everybody was good to me, I’ve never experienced anything like this. I really enjoyed it.”

Back to School—and to Second Place

Val is currently in Form 3 (equivalent to 11th grade) and ranks second in her business class. She plans to continue her education after high school—maybe in fashion design, maybe in pastry arts. At Maisha, we’re already thinking about how we can support her in applying for a future scholarship at Kianda.

A Supported Birth, a Transformed Life

Val also holds special memories of Jesu and Javi, two volunteers who were by her side during childbirth. Their close, professional, and compassionate support was key to helping her go through that stage with a sense of safety and care.

Stories like Val’s are the reason Maisha exists. Not to replace, but to uplift. Not to decide for others, but to walk alongside them. Every class, every volunteer, every moment of welcome can open a door that once seemed shut.

Do you want to be part of these transformations?

Write to us and join as a volunteer.

“When a woman rises, she lifts her whole community with her.”