Norah (name changed), wakes up at 3 AM every morning to begin making pupusas. By 5 AM, a line of hungry construction workers is out the door, with pupusas quickly moving off the shelves into empty stomachs. Everyone loves Norah’s food. 

Norah is a survivor of trafficking. After taking a 12-week business course offered to survivors by one of O.U.R.’s aftercare partners, she courageously started a restaurant in Central America. 

As Norah prepares food throughout the day, her daughter stands next to her imitating her every move. She stands at her toy kitchen set and pours something when her mom pours something, cuts something when her mom cuts something.

“I’m helping my mom. I’m going to own a restaurant like my mom one day.”

Norah’s daughter

Not only did this 12-week business class affect Norah’s life, but it also affected her daughter’s life. Norah endured many years of abuse from her husband and father. But Norah is working to break the chain. She is empowering her daughter by working hard at her restaurant, providing memories that her daughter will take with her for the rest of her life. 

It is inspiring to see Norah become so successful. This opportunity has helped her grow in confidence and aided her on her path to healing. She still volunteers with the program that helped her get where she is today and often provides food for the graduation parties.

O.U.R. Aftercare was honored to have ‘How Does She‘ join us on our one of our follow-up and service missions. O.U.R. and ‘How Does She’ has a similar mission of treating everyone like family from the first time they meet. We are all inspired by our friend and family member Norah.