When Hope Returned

My name is Fatima O. Malaca, and I am 20 years old. Life has never been easy for me. My parents separated when I was young, and from then on, my grandmother became my only constant companion at home. I have two brothers, but they already have their own lives and work far away to support themselves. Growing up, I carried a dream close to my heart: to work on a ship. I imagined myself traveling across the seas, discovering new places, and, most importantly, helping my family live a better life. But reality reminded me that my family could not afford the high cost of college. Still, I tried to keep my hope alive.

After graduating from Senior High School, a haunting question followed me every day:

What will happen to me now? 

Fear grew stronger with each passing week. I worried that I might never achieve my dreams and would remain stuck in uncertainty.

I fought back by working hard. I searched for every possible way to earn an income, selling second-hand clothes online, tutoring a neighbor’s child for ₱200 a week, and even joining dance contests, hoping to win ₱1,000. But no matter how much I tried, the money was never enough. The exhaustion was heavy, but my dreams kept pushing me forward.

Then came a bold decision: I enrolled in college to take up Education. At first, I kept it a secret from my family. When I passed the entrance exam, I told them, and they supported me emotionally but not financially. We simply couldn’t afford it. Eventually, I had to let go of that dream for the moment. Watching my classmates continue their studies while I stayed behind filled me with envy and sadness.

But life has a way of opening doors when you least expect it. One day, I saw Venice, a familiar face, walking confidently in her uniform. Without thinking, I asked if she was working. She smiled and told me she was training at LP4Y (Life Project 4 Youth), a program that supports young people build skills, confidence, and a better future. Her story lit a spark in me. For the first time in a long while, hope returned.

On May 6, 2025, I walked into LP4Y for the first time. I was overwhelmed. I didn’t understand the activities, the schedules, or even the purpose behind some of the tasks. Part of me wanted to give up. Honestly, in the early weeks, I only came for the weekly allowance. But deep down, I knew there had to be more to this program.

The turning point came during Life Project Plan day, when we each shared our life plans. That moment made me ask myself:

Why am I here? What am I really working toward? 

The Green Village Leader, Sherlyn Caasi, shared words that stayed with me:

When you feel like giving up, remember why you started

Sherlyn’s story, of hardship turned into triumph, reminded me that no matter how difficult the road, the journey is worth it. From that day on, I promised myself to give my all at LP4Y.

Since then, I’ve seen changes in myself I never imagined possible. The lost and uncertain girl is now someone who knows how to act professionally. The shy girl who feared speaking in public now speaks with confidence. The one who didn’t know how to use a computer can now create, edit, and use technology as a tool for progress.

I no longer run from challenges, I face them head-on. LP4Y has taught me discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. It has given me not only skills for work, but lessons for life. Most importantly, it has given me a second family, people who believe in me, encourage me, and remind me that I am capable of more than I think.

Yes, challenges will always come. But I now believe there will always be more solutions than problems, more ways forward than reasons to give up. My journey is far from over, but I walk with courage, purpose, and faith.

I am no longer just a girl with dreams.

I am a young woman building them into reality.