Esteffanny standing outside holding her sister. She is with a nun and her mother

Early life

“My name is Esteffanny. I live with my mother and stepfather in a small village in Pará (Northern Brazil). I have six siblings and my mother is pregnant with another girl. Life at home is not easy and we could hardly eat a complete meal a day. My stepfather works in a plantation of beans and cassava. He earns so little that my 15-year-old brother had to work with him, too.

Though our house has only three small rooms, we had bills to pay. These are our great worries and discomforts. I really love to study; I wake up early and be ready to a 30-minute walk to our school. Unfortunately, I am not that good in studying, often I was absent because I had to take care of my siblings and other times, I have not eaten something, and I could not concentrate.”

Esteffanny standing outside in school uniform

School

“When I heard about Sisters of Mary, and the School in Brasilia, I wanted to join them. I said to myself ‘this is my only salvation.’ It was a great miracle and now I am here. I am so happy that I did not have chance to be lonely and sad. This is a big chance to devote myself to studies with no worries.

The Sisters welcome us with joy, the teachers are doing their best to share their knowledge to us. I already made friends. I feel that I am in heaven. I will do my very best to be a good student and be a better professional someday. When I grow up, I want to be a Police Chief. I am so grateful for the chance to live in this wonderful place. I thank our dear friends and benefactors for being so kind and generous to all of us. May God bless you always.”