Four years ago, political unrest drove Maria Christina and her family to flee Columbia, taking almost nothing with them. They were forced to leave behind their family, friends, and a successful family business. They moved to Canada.

While this enormous life change was frightening, coming to Canada held hope and promise for Maria Christina. "I brought here a lot of dreams, and hopes for me and my family. It was a better country for me and my sons. You have more opportunities here."

She quickly discovered trying to learn English and earn a living at the same time was difficult. Maria Christina soon left her job to reassess what her next steps would be. Shortly after, her husband confessed to having an affair. She had forgiven him once for a previous indiscretion, and this second blow was too much to bear. She would not forgive him this time; they separated.

Maria Christina suddenly found herself an unemployed, single mother trying to raise two young boys in a foreign country. Depression set in.

"Everything at the same time was terrible for me...Every day I was crying...I was very depressed".

It was around this time Maria Christina read a flyer about a CWF-funded training program for women to start their own businesses.

A week later, she started the self-employment training program. She continued to deal with the other setbacks in her life, and still found getting through each day extremely challenging. However, as each day passed, the program not only gave her the skills to write a business plan and eventually launch her own business, it also provided her with the emotional support and connection she needed during an exceptionally difficult time.

"The program was the best part of my life at that time... It's not only staff. It's not only classmates. You have family there."

One year later, Maria Christina and her mother have launched their own handmade jewellery business, and her two sons are thriving. She feels confident, and looks forward to what will come. "Now I see my future with hopefulness. I'm getting more close to my dreams. I can see a better future for me and my sons."