Auria was able to sow opportunities into her daughter’s life. Help mothers like her, reap a harvest of joy by donating today!
Planting seeds of transformation: A mother’s story
Auria knew she wanted her children’s lives to be very different from her own. Having lost her husband unexpectedly at a young age, and struggling her entire life to provide for herself and her children, she sought to carve a new path for them. A path that was only possible because of the generosity of Carmel Impact supporters.
This is Auria’s story….
As a child, Auria lived in a small house in her hometown. A house made of ropes, leaves, and wood. It was a humble home, but her early years were marked by fond memories with her siblings. “I loved climbing trees and playing in the river with my friends and siblings, which often gave my parents headaches because, as a girl, I played more like a boy. But I also helped my mother and older sister a lot. I used to make coffee for my father, cook, clean, and do other household tasks.”
“Being born in Timor during the Portuguese era and then under the Indonesian occupation, opportunities were few. I only studied up to Grade 2 in primary school because life back then was very difficult. Everything was hard to access, and my family wasn’t well off. Only my eldest brother managed to study up to Grade 4.”
Meeting her husband
After moving to Dili at 15 to live with her elder brother (her last living sibling) Auria met her husband.
“We fell in love and got married when I was 18 years old. My husband worked a teacher and I was a housewife. Sometimes I sold small items from our garden. Though he was a teacher, my husband also farmed, and I helped him sell our produce at the market.”
The challenges of motherhood
Auria and her husband then went on to have eight children, but tragically lost two of their daughters due to illness. Esmeralda, our community scholarship student featured in this year’s appeal, is Auria’s youngest child. You can read more about her story here.
“I also have four grandchildren, two boys and two girls. My children, along with their spouses and often visit me and sometimes stay with me. Every day, I wake up early to do housework and prepare food for them. Even now, I still wake up early to make breakfast for my children and grandchildren. I usually cook porridge because it’s quick and easy, and we don’t always have access to bread or other store-bought foods.”
Auria’s home in Mota Kiik, remains isolated and underdeveloped. To reach her requires the crossing of a river which can be dangerous during the rainy season, and inhibits her ability to travel to the city to access long-life food supplies, or to visit Esmeralda in the city, where she studies.
Thinking ahead for her childrens’ future
Auria came to learn about Carmel Impact’s Community Scholarship Program after her son Jaime got involved in a number of our community projects. This gave way for an opportunity to meet the Martins family, learn about their particular struggles as well as discover avenues where we could provide support. Esmeralda was offered a scholarship to pursue a tertiary education and the rest is history.
“I’ve always cared deeply about my children’s education. I often told them, “Education will lead to success. Study hard so your future will be good. Today, I feel so happy and relieved about Esmeralda’s future. The burden on my shoulders is not as heavy anymore for my youngest daughter, as she will soon graduate. I hope she finishes her studies, finds work, and lives a happy life.”
“I want to thank the Australian donors so much as I am very grateful for your help and support of my daughter! Thank you so much for caring for the children of Timor Leste!” – Auria
