Meet Mary, a bright young girl who overcame adversity through our education program to become the first in her family to attend university.
When Mary arrived at Rescue Mission Orphanage in 2015, she had never set foot in a classroom. At eight years old, she couldn't read or write, and her future seemed uncertain.
Through our education program, Mary was paired with a dedicated tutor who worked with her three times a week. Slowly but surely, she began to catch up. Her curiosity was insatiable — she devoured every book she could get her hands on.
By 2019, Mary had not only caught up with her peers but was leading her class. She developed a particular passion for science, often staying after school to help younger children with their experiments.
In 2023, Mary became the first person in her family to attend university, earning a full scholarship to study medicine. Her dream is to return to the community that raised her and open a clinic for children in need.
"Rescue Mission didn't just give me an education," Mary says. "They gave me a future. They showed me that my past doesn't define my story."
Today, Mary is in her second year of medical school, maintaining a 3.8 GPA while volunteering at a local health clinic on weekends. She regularly writes letters to the children at Rescue Mission, encouraging them to dream big.
