Stories: A Foundation the helps Survivors Grow through what they go through
I was at a point in my life where I was feeling truly lost and in the dark, I held on to this family secret for so long. Lost and alone I felt I had no purpose other than to be used and abused by people, for that is my life story.
Trafficked by my parents, I searched for love in all the wrong places, leading me to abusive relationships. I really had no hope for life or trust in humanity or myself. At this point I happened to meet a friend from church who prayed with me and spoke on Trafficking Awareness and how she educates the community, A secret I held on to for way too long and was afraid to speak on, my whole life I was to stay silent not only by them but also the people that had abused me.
Meeting this friend fired me up to speak up about my story, which led me to go to one of her conferences that had a bunch of organizations come in and give a talk on human trafficking. I felt led to go to a table that had the phrase “Your Story Matters” a key phrase from the foundation. I talked to the team that was at the table and told them I was ready to share my story. I was clenching my teeth at times out of utter fear, but I truly knew it was time to share this secret I have carried in my heart. You see, survivors of any sort of abuse are told to be quiet or there will be “consequences” for saying something. Some survivors’ lives are threatened and if it is done by family members, they will not acknowledge it.
There was one person who believed in me and encouraged me to share my story, it was at the same time I was writing my chapter in a book I co-authored with other survivors, I truly knew at this moment it was God’s timing. At this moment, meeting Stephanie, little did I know my whole life would change. From a scared survivor to share her story, Stephanie walked alongside me every time I would get up to speak because being vulnerable in public was frightening, but I wanted to share just in case there is someone out there that needs to hear a message of overcoming life.
The Stories Foundation has walked alongside me through this healing journey through these years and encouraged me to keep going when there was no go left in me. Like me and Stephanie always tell each other there is no quitting here. They have walked alongside me financially, helped me with my vehicle and so much more. The Stories team helped me find purpose again and stability. I am now employed by Stories, and I get to help other survivors.
At one of the events, Stephanie mentioned having a ripple effect in the community and the lives of others, little did she know she was making a ripple effect in my life by encouraging me and inspiring me to keep going, through the years she has watched and helped me grow into the woman I am becoming. Because she believed in me, I am now an advocate at a safe house and encourage other survivors to believe in themselves. I am now not afraid to share my story with others, it gets easier the more I do it. I now also write for Stories. So, the ripple effect Stories Foundation has had on me with Stephanie Page by my side has been life-changing. I went from hopeless, lost, and feeling like I had no purpose, to feeling valued, and heard and now I have a purpose to inspire those that have no hope or feel lost and alone, there is no way out, I am living proof there is!
There is hope on the other side of what we go through, we need foundations like this to come alongside to help survivors grow through what they go through in a safe space and let them know they are seen, heard, and valued. Something Stephanie will never let me forget when I forget she reminds me. Stories helped me find my purpose as a survivor and they continue to help me grow. There are many more out there that need the same support. These foundations can’t run without your support.
Your support helps tell other survivors they are heard, they are valued and there is a community cheering them on. From a person that had nobody believing in them and cheering them on and not being heard that is truly important. Will you help by donating to the foundation so they can continue helping other survivors like me? This is truly a need. Many survivors go back because they don’t have the community or resources to do it on their own, so they are forced back into life when it is all they have ever known.
Be a voice, raise awareness, and help fund foundations like this. Life will never be the same because of the support I have received from Stories and the support you give back to them can help them help others. You’re not just investing in a foundation; you are investing in a life that needs hope and someone to walk alongside them to a new way of life. My life is forever changing because of Stephanie and the foundation. You can be a life changer too. Will you walk alongside them as they walk alongside survivors?