Meet Camille: CUPS supports young mother in dreaming big
“I am a different person because of my daughter. She motivates me to keep myself on the right path.”
We’d like to introduce 24 year old Camille* and her 19-month-old daughter Rose*. This is a story about her decision to change two lives, her own and that of her child, and how CUPS supported her on this path.
Camille is now living on her own with Rose, thanks to the support of CUPS and an external housing partner. Now, she’s receiving educational assistance to make another dream a reality — graduating high school. Not one to dream small, she looks forward to, one day, studying for a trade.
Asked what she would tell her younger self if she could, she said, “I would tell her to ‘hold on.’”
In her youth, Camille experienced the neglect, abuse and feelings that she didn’t belong that, ultimately, resulted in her leaving school. On her own, she was vulnerably housed for six years, had lived experience with substance abuse, being sex trafficked, incarceration and a pregnancy in an abusive relationship.
Supported by service partners, Camille and Rose arrived in Alberta to an organization that provides treatment and housing for young women with lived experience of sex trafficking. Once there, she was connected to CUPS Family Development Centre (FDC) and our parenting courses.
Camille passed that class, our 18-week Nurturing Parenting course, with 100% attendance.
“Especially when I first went, Rose was so small,” she said. “So, to hear women and men talking about their kids, around the same ages, or older, it made me so excited.”
Wanting to learn more, Camille completed our Nobody’s Perfect class, and is soon to start Circle of Security. Safely housed, she thanked all who have helped her live on her own with her daughter.
“I love my home and take such pride in it,” she said.
Holly Golanowski, CUPS Nurturing Parenting facilitator, has experienced much of this “dynamic and resilient” young mom’s journey in Calgary, and has connected her to aid that helped meet her goals.
“You’re really learning to trust yourself as Camille *, as an individual, as a mother,” she told her. “You’re an amazing role model. I was so honoured to watch that journey of yours.”
With graduation day now a reality, Camille shared how excited she is. “It’s been a long time coming. I’m eight years behind, but it’s going to help me better understand who I am.”
As for Rose, Camille said she’s at an age where she just wants to learn. Together, they read books, learn colours and even have queue cards with different birds on them. “We’re doing great,” she said.
“I’m blessed with a beautiful, intelligent little girl. I’m definitely going to do my best to pour as much of myself into her cup as I can in the most positive way.”
Given a chance to address donors, Camille shared what support for CUPS does for the people who come here wanting something better. “You never know who is going to come for help. You never know what that person could do for the greater good of everybody and what their kids can do.”
Now on a different trajectory, Camille sees opportunities ahead for herself and Rose, including school and possibly sports for her daughter, and a good job to afford a vehicle and maybe a pet.
“I just want both of us to have good lives,” she said.
* Names have been changed to protect anonymity