www.mihub.eu Page | 4 Stories of Migrants / “Roots & Routes” From Struggle to Strength: A Migrant Mother's Journey of Integration and Empowerment in Cyprus By Irene Che Country of Origin: Cameroon Current Residence: Cyprus (7 years) Age: 31 In 2018, I arrived in Cyprus seeking safety and a fresh start, carrying the heavy weight of personal loss. The crisis in Cameroon had already taken so much from me and the sense of security I once knew. Back home, I worked passionately as a marketing manager in a private company. But the threat to my life forced me to leave everything behind. What I didn’t anticipate was that just a few months later, I would give birth to my son and begin my journey in Cyprus as a single mother. With no family around and no opportunity to work due to childcare responsibilities, the early years were incredibly challenging. I was alone in a foreign country, raising a child while carrying the trauma of my past. During those isolating days at home with my newborn, I started seeking ways to reconnect with myself. I found hope and purpose through online workshops organized by various NGOs and civil society organizations. These workshops were life-changing. They gave me a platform to share my experiences related to migration and human trafficking and connect with others who faced similar challenges. One such connection was with an organization called Room of Hope. It became a safe and supportive space for me—a place where I could grow and heal. Later, I joined another impactful group, New Haven (meaning “A Safe Place”), where I further developed my interpersonal skills and built emotional resilience. These communities became my anchor, and I often reflect on how different my life might have been if I hadn’t met such empowering and positive people. Consistency became my superpower. I kept showing up—to workshops, training sessions, and every available opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute. My son was, and still is, my greatest motivation. Every sleepless night and tough moment were fueled by the determination to build a better future for him. Along the way, many people gave unsolicited advice—telling me what I should do or how I should live. But what kept me grounded was the network of NGOs I had already connected with. They gave me the right information at the right time, and I made use of nearly all the NGOs operating in Cyprus in one way or another. Each of them has impacted me deeply, and I remain grateful for their unwavering support. In 2022, a breakthrough moment came when the Cyprus Refugee Council, with whom I had participated in many workshops, recommended me for a three-month training with Synthesis. It came at one of the most difficult times in my life, but I didn’t let fear or uncertainty stop me.
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