From Fear to Strength: Hoat’s Journey of Resilience
For many, childhood is a time of dreams and discovery. But for Hoat, it was a daily struggle for survival. Growing up in a home filled with violence and uncertainty, she learned early on to stay quiet, to endure, to survive.
Her father, diagnosed with schizophrenia, subjected Hoat and her mother to relentless physical and verbal abuse. One day, in a fit of rage, he tried to burn her schoolbooks—an attempt to erase her dreams before they could even take shape.
Still, Hoat held onto hope.
But financial hardship forced her to make an impossible choice: she left school to work as a tailor, sacrificing her education to help support her family. While her hands stitched fabric, her heart longed for the classroom, for friends, for a future where she could be more than just a survivor.
That future felt out of reach—until she found Hagar.
A New Beginning
Through Hagar’s support, Hoat received case management and psychological counseling, helping her begin the long journey of healing. The shadows of her past still loomed, but with each session, each conversation, she reclaimed a piece of herself.
After a year of unwavering support, Hoat took a bold step forward: she enrolled in a hospitality training program. For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t just surviving—she was thriving. She formed friendships, was elected vice monitor of her class, and even ranked among the top five students!
The simple act of wearing a uniform again felt like putting on armour—armour against fear, against doubt, against the past that once tried to define her.
A Future Filled with Possibility
Reflecting on her journey, Hoat says:
“I never really thought about myself—who I was or what I wanted—because I was scared. But now, I have a dream. I used to believe my father’s words, that I wasn’t capable of anything better. But since connecting with Hagar, I understand my worth. Thank you, Hagar, for believing in me even when I couldn’t believe in myself. Because of you, I promise to be stronger, braver, and bolder in the future.”
Hoat’s story is one of resilience, hope, and transformation. And thanks to compassionate supporters like you, survivors like Hoat are rewriting their futures—one dream at a time.
