A mother’s resilience: Overcoming loss to build a future for her children in Bolivia
When I first met Wilma*, there was a deep sadness about her. As we sat down to talk, I learned the reasons why. Only 34 years old, Wilma had already experienced unimaginable loss. She had been widowed twice and lost her first daughter in a tragic car accident while working at a busy market in Cochabamba.
"The truth is that I fell apart. My life was shattered, and it felt like a nightmare. At that moment, I just wanted to die with her," she shared. A year later, while eight months pregnant, Wilma faced another heartbreaking tragedy when her husband passed away. Struggling to cope, she sought psychological help. After baby Pamela* was born, Wilma poured all her energy into caring for her.
"She kept me from falling apart. She gave me strength,” Wilma explained. But during the pandemic, tragedy struck again when Wilma became a widow for the second time. With Pamela over a year old and Wilma pregnant again, she realized that her children depended entirely on her.
Unable to afford childcare or go back to street vending, a job Wilma considered too risky as she feared that history might repeat itself. A concerned neighbour told her about SOS Children's Villages. Access to daycare services allowed Wilma to work knowing that her daughter was safe and well cared for while she received support to help her navigate her difficult circumstances.
"I was afraid to leave my daughter and be away from her. I didn't know what it would be like, but my neighbour assured me, ‘It’s good, they will help you and the baby.’"
Since then, Pamela has participated in SOS Children's Villages programs in Cochabamba, and Wilma has received vital prenatal care and psychological support. During her pregnancy, she attended neonatal classes and counselling and secured daycare for her soon-to-be-born baby.
Today, Wilma is very different from the person I met a few months ago. Her transformation is remarkable. She has become an entrepreneur, launching her own ice cream business, which she dreams of passing on to her children.
“Now, my dream is for them. This business is theirs. I want to finish paying off my debts so they don't have to start empty-handed, struggling like I did,” Wilma said.
For Wilma, SOS Children's Villages has been a lifeline, markedly impacting her life for the better. “My life has changed a lot because of the support I received. It is a huge help. It is a safe place for my children, and I have this ice cream shop because they have provided training and encouraged me.” Wilma has grown personally and in her business and is happy with how far she’s come.
Wilma is a mother, an entrepreneur, and a brave woman whose strength and determination show the power of resilience and willpower in overcoming life’s toughest challenges.
*Names changed to protect privacy.