Tom

Tom’s* mother died when he was young, leaving his father suddenly a single parent. Together they had come to Germany from Ethiopia, but everyday life soon became overwhelming—and Tom was placed with foster parents. Later, he lived in youth welfare facilities, where he often felt frustrated, sad, and powerless. Yet his faith gave him strength. When he could no longer stay within the youth welfare system, he actively sought support: “I didn’t want to wait until I became homeless to get help.”