I arrived in the U.S. as a new UN employee, single mother of three, with little more than my courage and a reporting date. While my Embassy arranged transport from the airport, everything else was left for me to figure out—where to go, how to live, how to parent in a completely different world.

Teresa Dangwa stepped in like an angel. She housed my family when we had nowhere to go, helped me prepare for my first day at the UN, and quietly made sure I was never lost in the city during those crucial early days. She helped enroll my children in schools and college, taught me how to use public transportation, find safe housing, build credit, and shop wisely.

But more than logistics—Teresa taught me how to survive emotionally, how to parent in a culture I didn’t understand, how to keep my children safe online, and how to help them dream again. Years later, I’ve returned home, but two of my children stayed behind and just graduated college—because Teresa helped us build a foundation.

Her work isn’t just integration—it’s restoration. She changed our story. ~Esther M