Gulzhamal was born in 1991 in Uzbekistan. She lived with her grandmother, father and mother. In 1995 her brother was born and they were a happy family. It was in 2006 that tragedy struck when her mother died giving birth to twins. Her grandmother died soon after her mother’s death. At that time, Gulzhamal was just 15-years-old and caring for her twin brothers and doing all the household chores. She didn’t always have time to go to school, and missed a lot of lessons. A year later, her father married again and his new wife took care of her brothers. Gulzhamal got married in 2010 and since her husband was from Kazakhstan, they moved. She gave birth to her son in 2011, daughter in 2013, and another son in 2015. Only a year after her son was born, her husband died in a car accident. Her husband’s relatives said she wasn’t welcome there and she wasn’t welcomed in her father’s home. She married again, thinking that he was a nice person and she’d have a family again. However, he turned out to be a very bad person. He was abusive and threatening so she ran away to protect herself and her children.
A friend told Gulzhamal that Caring Heart helped mothers in difficult situations and she came seeking help. After hearing about her situation, Caring Heart took her in, provided food and clothing and helped get her children enrolled in school. Because she didn’t have a job, she was given employment and was a very hard worker. Gulzhamal reports, “Beth talked to me every day and Victoria was teaching English. She cared so well for us. There were different games and activities for children every day and it all helped my children feel safe and stable. When we first came to a Caring Heart, my children were traumatized, did not trust anyone, were afraid of others, and often cried. And now they are studying well, confident in themselves, and can freely speak their thoughts and feelings. I’ve changed a lot too. I went to weekly training for moms, where I learned to accept and love myself, be self-confident, take care of my children, consider others opinions, listen and hear my children, not be afraid of others, manage money correctly, and much more. Before coming to the Caring Heart, I was very insecure, I was afraid and did not trust others, I cried a lot, I could not control my emotions. I was a homeless and lonely person who also had a loan that my ex-husband had taken out in my name. Caring heart gave us housing assistance, we lived in the fund for 6 months. During this time, I closed my loan and could plan to move to my own apartment. I am very grateful to the Caring Heart, Beth, Victoria, and everyone who supports the work of Caring Heart. They helped me when I didn’t see a way out of the situation, when I didn’t know whom to trust, or whom to ask for help. They gave me housing, work, clothes, food, emotional support, feeling that I am valuable, cared, loved and provided psychological assistance so that I could get back on my feet, believe in goodness, become confident and take care of my children myself.”
Gulzhamal works at Caring Heart as a teacher and is now giving back by pouring into the lives of the children we serve in the Day Program.
