Is it possible for an underprivileged kid to become Olympic and attend a good high school? Yes, for Maria, with the help of United Way, this was possible.
Eight years ago, Maria was in first grade and her life was full of concerns that shouldn’t rest on a child’s shoulders. Her mother was single and could not find a job because, besides Maria, who was the eldest, she had other three small children who could not be left alone. They were living on the edge of subsistence, based on allowances and small benefits, and did not see how their lives could improve.
The life of Maria and her brothers changed when they started coming to the center supported by United Way`s education program. Here, they received a warm meal and homework help, as they all entered school. Thus, the mother was soon able to get a job and their life became much more stable and predictable. Maria proved everyone that all a child needs to reach its potential is safety. Maria is one of the best pupils in her class and, over the years, she has participated in the Romanian language Olympiad. Last year, she visited a foreign country for the first time through an Erasmus program, with the support of the educational center team and school teachers.
At 15, Maria proved that she is an ambitious and talented young woman. In addition to successfully entering high school, where she will study economics, she dedicates her free time to her younger siblings, supporting them in building their own future.
