Maria’s Story

I KNOW HOW THESE WOMEN ARE FEELING BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE I WAS.

Maria came to Houston as a refugee almost ten years ago. Her Italian parents moved to Venezuela before Maria was born. They made a life there. Maria and her siblings grew up in a loving environment in a house full of books, and in 2013 Maria graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication & Journalism. With her upbringing and education, she was looking forward to a successful career.  

By that time her father was politically active and in outspoken opposition to the government. Maria’s family became the target of persecution and the situation became unsafe. Maria left home with $200 in her pocket and a small backpack. 

Arriving in the US was hard. Maria had no friends, no independence, no English. Making her application to stay was expensive and she had to borrow money.   

“I cried a lot at this time” Maria recalls. “I missed my friends. I had a full life back home. I was active in our neighborhood even then, always helping people. In Houston I couldn’t even help myself. Staying motivated was so hard. I was so lost that first year.” 

At first Maria worked in a restaurant. She found a local church and made her first friends. She practiced her English and took every language skills course she could find. Then she started helping out in a clothing store which offered plenty of English practice. “I just kept going, and little step by step I made progress.” 

Maria’s brother heard that Amaanah were looking for a Spanish-speaking tutor to work in schools on a short-term contract. As soon as he mentioned it, Maria jumped at the opportunity. “This was a dream for me – I could be helping people again, and it was a paying job.” 

Maria started work in January 2021, when covid was still having a major impact on the US. Her English classes were all online and she was working with elementary-age children, all newcomers from South America. “I made basic lessons to get them started and I also helped the teachers. I was making a difference to these children, being a friend to them in their situation.”   Maria turned out to be the ideal person for Amaanah and her contract became fulltime employment. 

In her three years with us, Maria worked across most of Amaanah’s programs, becoming a full time Program Manager focusing on the Women’s Empowerment Program and Big Sisters Circle.

Maria helped so many women and young people find their feet in Houston, matching them with Spanish, Farsi or Arabic speakers who guide them to practical resources and provide emotional support. 

She left Amaanah in 2024 for Baltimore, where she is continuing her work with a national Refugee-focused non-profit.