I Belong

One by One matched Kelanda with Wuday when Kelanda was three months pregnant. Her baby just turned one, and their relationship is still going strong. This mentor has gone through our curriculum with the mom, and the mom recently told us how she is using some of the educational lessons to read to her daughter, teach her new vocabulary, and teach her to sound out letters.

The mentor has also supported the mom in a number of other ways. The mentor encouraged her to see her doctor and follow his guidance when she was ill during her pregnancy. When the mom applied for a job, the mentor helped her with her resume and conducted mock interviews to help her prepare for her interview (she got the job!). The mentor helped connect her to a number of community resources to help meet her needs. The mentor also listened to her and provided guidance related to her relationships, advising the mom to be respectful, maintain open communication, and set and respect boundaries as needed to maintain good relationships even in stressful times. The mentor has also taken the mom to church and social events and introduced her to other women who can encourage her in her parenting journey.

Kelanda says, “I love One by One because I have a sense I belong. Everyone feels like family, and no one gets turned away. You can gain a lot of knowledge, and there are a lot of resources you can get. Every day is a process. My mentor has been with me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and has been a big help. I can turn to her for anything. We go to church; we go out to eat. We pray. I pray for her, and she prays for me. I feel like I have a friend. She will always be in my life and I love her.”