I told her, “Miss, I don’t have any money to go there. It takes a lot of money to leave the country.”
Resilience
Unbeknown to my father, I went to register for school. I went to register for school when I was ten years old, keeping it secret from my father.
Determined to Succeed
You must not think of us—human beings fleeing violence—as a nuisance.
The Butterflies Have Abandoned El Salvador
There is something special in our women, we don’t lose our joy, don’t lose our hope. Whatever we do, we do with joy...We do this so...other people see the effort we have in wanting to survive.
The Fluttering of a Butterfly
This ends with not the ending but the beginning, the beginning of my healing... My education and work in this field saved me. It helped me learn to begin to heal and allowed me to work towards...ending violence against women.
La Niña Invisible: A Story of Trauma, Violence and Alcoholism
I wanted to see my daughter and she wanted to see me, it had been years since we’d seen each other. Seeing the mountains frightened me and I’d say it made me think about all the remains, the bones of all who had died, and I’d get a little scared but then I’d begin again.
Giving It All I’ve Got
2 In the winter of 2002 they made plans to cross the border. With only a long-sleeved shirt, cans of food on her back and a gallon-jug of water in her hands, she began the three-day trek into the U.S.
Woman Warrior
About six in the afternoon we started to walk. I only carried a gallon of water....
El Motivo
5 I listen for grandma’s voice to echo in my ear. I hope to live long enough to tell my grandchildren about their great-great-grandmother and of all her teachings. And to let my youngest granddaughter know that her name “Echo” comes in honor of my grandmother and our ancestors, who often echo in our ears if we just stand still and listen……
Echoes of Faith
The woman who has made the most impact on my life is the woman with whom I spent the first weeks of my life. She is not my mother.