Written by Barbara Palmer for Hope for MENA

“ I am soo tired...” Familiar words from a single mother of 2 small children. But this was different. It wasn't just the broken nights and the worries about paying the bills. Wafa is exhausted because she feels utterly hopeless. 

She started telling her story in broken English, but switched to Arabic with a translator because she wanted to be sure that we had understood. When I asked if I could share her story with my christian community, she begged me to do so. 

Wafa's daughter Retage Safy was born in the Nuba region of Sudan. A few years later Wafa was raped and became pregnant. The UN advised her to have an abortion which she did not want so she ran away to Cairo. There she found shelter in a small flat where some people she knew had gone away.

Rehaf Ali was born about 6 months ago, and Wafa clearly loves both girls dearly. In spite of the fact our visit was unexpected, Wafa and the girls were clean and well turned out in traditional sudanese dress and the body language between them was so special. 

Wafa works as a home cleaner, but doesn't have enough money to pay the bills. She is considering renting out the room in the flat which they are sharing with other refugee families. Often, they would have to live and sleep in the kitchen area. 

Wafa's oldest daughter attends the Centre of Hope where she is offered education and a meal every day. 

Wafa said that she wants to find hope in Jesus. She is so desperate that she is considering selling one of her kidneys in order to escape to the West.

Please, help Wafa and her daughters to rent a room and get some warm clothes and blankets for the winter season.