From the sands of Venezuela’s beaches to the depths of Chicago’s high school hallways, a thread of hope weaves its way through uncharted territory and finds its home in the dreams of two young sisters: Markielys and Margelys.

This thread—beautiful in its strength, though weathered by stress—has grown over time to become unique strands that swirl above our heroes’ heads. With the girls’ rich curiosity about the world around them, the strands deepen in color. Alive with passion for their new hobbies, the strands bounce from side to side. What was once a running thread of hope now becomes strands of dreams, and these strands grow in different directions for Markielys and Margelys.

How do you learn another language for dreaming? How do you find a community outside of your family environment? Where do you even start?

To return to the root of their dreaming, the girls search for that initial strand of hope. The strands they both share, which stem from their brilliant minds and flow out towards the future. With a shared desire to shape their futures, the girls found strength in coming together. And the experience of navigating a new chapter in their lives would bring them closer than they ever expected.

They bond over their shared love of art and movies that celebrate friendship, with “The Fast and Furious” series being one of their favorites. And when they are in school, the girls look forward to catching up with each other in between classes. The effects of displacement are no match for their powerful bond and their determination to find joy.

Over time, their sisterhood grew deeper as a safe space for the two to flourish and explore. Before she spikes her volleyball into the air, Margelys reflects that, “Our differences as sisters motivates us to learn new things.” Their unique interests enriched each other’s understanding of the world and what was possible. It would be a sisterhood that served as a model for the community they sought outside their home.

Just as a girl braids her hair, collecting strands and bringing them together, a sisterhood holds space for individuality and provides a protective space to grow. Each girl being complete on her own but being strengthened by the presence of her sister’s trust, understanding, and compassion. The braid benefits from the presence of every strand gathering around one another in a beautiful bond. At times messy and sometimes a little askew, a braid’s beauty is that it can come in any form and always be assembled again.

She expresses that, “Sisterhood has its ups and downs, but its beautiful moments, too.” Accepting a sisterhood of diversity, of patience, and, ultimately, of love, made it natural for the girls to gravitate towards GirlForward.

This past summer Markielys and Margelys joined the Summer Camp program at our Chicago office, where they spent their days in literature circles, ESL activities, games, and field trips. Margelys loved viewing the ancient sculptures at the Art Institute, and Markielys enjoyed the lions and snakes at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The two shared that they enjoyed being able to learn English as well, which prepared them for their continued studies this school year.

Margelys cherished the welcoming and comfortable nature of the GirlForward space, where she visited with her sister and met new girls who shared a similar experience of displacement.

Upon discovering GirlForward, Markielys and Margelys found an extension of the sisterhood they had come to know and enjoy. It was a journey learning about new cultures and finding friendships that warmed their hearts against Chicago’s winds. The possibilities for connection were endless and unlike any other opportunity in the city.

• They came to the GirlForward office for a place to hangout with friends in our family room.

• They paired up with local community members in our mentorship program for one-on-one support.

• And whenever they needed homework help, they could drop in during our weekly tutoring sessions.

A streak of lightning cracks across the blemished sky, providing a ripple in Markielys and Margelys’ world. They look up to see the sky brighten up in the middle of the storm, and they sit with each other through it all. Margelys rests her head on her sister’s shoulder and Markielys reaches over to hold her hand. As they settle in for the storm, the girls hear footsteps close by and realize they are not alone.

The girls start building a shelter to protect themselves from the rain and hail. They share words of encouragement to carry on, and through it all, they remind each other that they are here to stay. 

Little by little, the braid of sisterhood continues to grow with each girl adding to its intricate pattern. Margelys puts on one of her favorite Cardi B songs for everyone to dance to, and the party continues into the night. As the storm rages on around her, she starts to feel hopeful about the future ahead.

For so long, Margelys felt like there was no certainty about the future and it was difficult to imagine what was next for her. While she’s still figuring out a plan, she’s found it much easier to focus again on her dreams. Since coming to GirlForward, she’s been part of a sisterhood that strengthens her resolve to keep going, brings her a sense of safety, and provides her a community that goes beyond any borders or family ties.

Because of you, we have helped over 500 girls embrace their unique superpowers in Chicago and Austin. Today, your support goes directly to the life-changing services girls need most.

• $500 Provides girls with a computer for school, work, and virtual tutoring opportunities.

• $1000 Provides a camp field trip for girls to explore our community arts and cultural centers, furthering their connections to their new homes.

• $2000 Provides a week of lunch for Camp GirlForward.

• $5000 Provides a semester’s worth of snacks for the girls in safe spaces and school based programming.