When Aster fled Ethiopia, she was pregnant, alone, and terrified. Armed forces had kidnapped her husband, and soon after, her home was destroyed. With nowhere safe to go, she came to the U.S. knowing only one distant acquaintance – and carrying the weight of starting over while preparing to give birth.

The months that followed were overwhelming. Aster welcomed her baby girl, but had no family or friends to help care for her newborn daughter. Exhausted and uncertain, she didn’t know where to turn for food, housing, legal help, or employment. Survival felt impossible. 

When Aster found AsylumWorks, everything began to shift. Her case manager connected her to resources that helped her start rebuilding her life – from regular grocery deliveries to legal consultations and a small church group that offered her a lease-free apartment. Staff also referred her to an immigration attorney who guided her through the U.S. immigration system. 

In July 2025, she was granted asylum and received her work permit. Now, as she awaits her Social Security number, she is enrolled in our Employment & Education program, working with a career coach to build a stable future for herself and her daughter. 

“AsylumWorks was a lifeline for me – a source of hope and strength in a time when I felt completely defeated,” she says. “I only hope that I can make you proud.”

*Name was changed to protect the privacy of our community.