"I am speaking for all of us, not just myself, when I say that we feel safe here, we feel like we are at home, like we are with family".
Ifrah, 19 years old, Somalia
At just 17, Ifrah fled Somalia to escape child marriage. She arrived at The HOME Project in 2023, and even though everything felt overwhelming at first, she was determined to push through.
“When you come to a new country, it’s not easy”, she recalls. “You don’t know the language, the people are all new -it takes time to adjust”.
With the support of her peers and our team of dedicated professionals, Ifrah gradually settled in. She made friends, built connections, and slowly regained her sense of trust. “I made many friends at the shelter and I liked them all”, she says. “What has really stayed with me is the way everyone at The HOME Project treated us -with kindness, respect, and care”.
The person she connected with the most was Dina, the shelter’s Coordinator and an experienced Social Worker. Over time, they formed a connection that transcended the structure of daily routines. It was founded on mutual trust.
“When I think of Ifrah, I’m reminded of a quote by Nikos Kazantzakis: ‘You have the brushes, you have the colors…’ And that’s exactly what she did. She took the tools our shelter offered her and used them to build a new life. She empowered herself, fought for her rights as a young woman, and continues to grow through education. She’s one of the sweetest children we’ve ever hosted, and I’m extremely proud of how far she has come”, Dina admits.
Once she reached adulthood, Ifrah moved to our 18+ shelter and has been working towards becoming fully independent. Today, Ifrah is employed at a hospital during the day and attends school in the evenings, proving that when there is a will, there is way. Challenges don’t phase her or hold her back.
"I am planning to be a doctor, especially a pediatrician”, she mentions. Her love for children and her desire to give back are apparent. The spark in her eyes as well as her bright smile indicate that she’s committed to taking charge of her future and making her dream come true.
When asked to describe what living at The HOME Project feels like, she responded: "I’m speaking for all of us, not just myself, when I say that we feel safe here, we feel like we’re at home, like we are with family".