In Shousha Village, there lived a boy named Thomas. He was from a poor family of four children and lived in a crowded house with few helping hands and endless needs. Amid all that noise and struggle, Thomas felt invisible—a forgotten child with no value, no purpose, and no place in life. Because of those feelings, he stopped caring about school, about his future, and about success. He often said to himself, “Who could I ever be? I’m useless anyway!” But then came the day that changed everything. Thomas was invited to attend a Transformational Community Development (TCD) group in his village. He sat there hesitantly, without expectations, without motivation, yet something inside his heart began to shift.

The lesson that day was titled, “I Feel My Worth—My Life Has a Purpose—I’m Meant to Make History.” The leader spoke words that pierced Thomas’s heart like light entering a dark room. “Your existence isn’t an accident. You’re here to make a difference. You need to have a dream or a goal and chase it. Your value isn’t in how much your family owns; your value is in what you’ll build with your life.”

Those words weren’t just talk; they were a spark. Thomas walked out of that meeting as a different person. For the first time, he lifted his head toward the future and began to care about his studies again, working hard with determination and chasing success as if he had finally found a reason to live.

With time, something incredible happened. Thomas—the forgotten boy—became the top of his class. He started achieving one success after another, until everyone—his family, his teachers, and his leaders—stood amazed. They saw before them a living testimony that showed when a person discovers their worth, they can never be the same again. That’s how Thomas was transformed from a neglected number to a name written in history.

We also heard the story of Umm Ibrahim. She was 45 years old and a mother of four grown children. A kind, gentle woman, but one who always felt “broken” by all she had endured. Her husband had a quick temper, and she had spent years staying silent and enduring everything. Over time, fear filled her heart, weakness became her habit, and her self-confidence nearly disappeared. She would often say, “I’m useless; my life is over.”

One day, a friend dragged her along to attend a women’s TCD meeting. The title of the talk was “Start Again, Even If It Feels Too Late.” The message touched her deeply, especially when the speaker said, “A woman who’s 45 isn’t old. She’s at the perfect age to plant new seeds and live what she once thought she’d lost.”

Those words were like light shining into Umm Ibrahim’s heart. She decided to start caring for herself again—not just her appearance, but her soul as well.

She began being more mindful every day and writing down three things she was thankful for. She learned a new skill, started selling vegetables, and found joy in building something meaningful. Months passed, and she was no longer the same Umm Ibrahim everyone knew. Her smile returned. Her confidence returned. Even her children said, “Mom has changed. She’s strong now, but peaceful.”

One day, she stood up at the meeting and said with a calm, glowing smile, “I used to think my life was over, but I’ve discovered it truly began after forty.”

Thank you,

Written by Fady, GHNI TCD Worker