Malenia's story
25 January 2018
19 year old Malenia came to The Salvation Army having faced more than any person her age ever should.
Orphaned as a child, Malenia moved to Australia from Ethiopia, hoping for a better life. Instead, she found herself subject to violence in the house she was living, which forced her to move out—with nowhere to go.
Malenia arrived at the St Kilda Crisis Centre with no support and no access to an income. But she also arrived with a dream to re-engage in education and become a patient services assistant in a hospital.
Malenia knew that she needed some housing stability and also to improve her English language skills in order to achieve her goal of gaining employment in a hospital.
In the 14 weeks Malenia spent at the refuge she participated in the house education program Learning for Life and had specialist help in conversational English through the on-site volunteers program. While staying at the refuge, Malenia commenced a Certificate 3 in Health Services and completed work placement in a major Melbourne hospital.
Today, Malenia is living in the community again and has a job she loves in a Melbourne hospital. Despite not living at the refuge, she continues to participate in a range of activities there. She regularly attends the gardening group and community meals program.
More than just being a participant in the activities at the refuge, Malenia is now a positive role model assisting other young people at the refuge starting their own journey towards independence.
Your support helps transform the lives of young people like Malenia everyday.