Jermila's story: A step forward

Jermila, 18years old, is the eldest of a family of 13 children. Her mother was a teenmom. She got pregnant at the age of 12 and by the time she turned 13, she gave birth to her first daughter, Jermila. By the next following years she got another 12 children. That's why she is always saying that 13 is her lucky number. 

 Jermila tells us a story about her life, about the struggle she felt during her childhood.
In the very first beginning, she didn't know that they were poor because they always had what they needed and even wanted. Her mother was working hard to maintain the kids.
At least that was what Jermilla thought... 

 When Jermila got older, she noticed that the struggle was real. There wasn't enough food for the kids so she started to steal some clothes and food from the mall. Every time she got home and told her mother about it, her mother took the clothes and went back to the mall to change them for cash. 



Jermila now realized that that was the thing her mother was doing for years to get money. 
They started doing it together on a regular base. Stealing clothes from the mall, taking it back after a day to get there money back and then they used the money for food. 

 At the age of 15, Jermila was on her way to the mall when a guy jumped on her and pulled a knife to her throat. She started to fight but she didn't win. She was assaulted... 
After this, she had no one to support her, no one who believed her, no one who comforted her,...  So she tried to do things on her own and that's why the crimes got even bigger.
She finally went to prison...

 After jail, she met her mentor who guided her towards a better life, trough another path. 
She now is, helping other young woman who have the same kind of problems that she had when she was younger. She helps women to get out of the struggle and to fight back. Fight for a good life!


 This story really got me because no mather how hard life can be, you always have a reason to fight back. We can never let go of our dreams and we have to do everything to achieve them. I have a tattoo on my back which is related to this ; 'Never let fear decide your fate'.
Eventhough life can be scared sometimes and we have the feeling of not getting out of that struggle, we always have to believe in ourselves and try to make the best out of it. No fear should take away our future! We have a meaning of being here and we need to enjoy it every single moment of our lives.
Locatie: Setúbal Municipality, Portugal

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