Author: Laura Ndanuko
For Mother’s Day, we are sharing Laura’s essay. Her story is one of suffering and of hope. She tells us about how she created a new life. Laura like many migrant mothers had to leave her child behind and our hearts go out to everyone who has had to do this.
Anchored by Faith
Let me tell you a story, my story. My name is Laura Ndanuko. I am a single mother to a beautiful eight-year-old girl named Ella.
The last time I held her, she was just nine months old. I was forced to leave her behind when I migrated, promised a better future, but never imagined how long the separation would be.
She had only just started eating solids, to walk while holding onto objects. I knew, even before the scan, that she would be a girl. I was so certain that the first item of clothing I bought was a soft pink linen shirt.
The pregnancy journey with Ella was a grounding moment in my life. It gave me the pause I needed in my womanhood, to reset and refocus. I did not have much, but unwavering faith that she will never lack love or strength. That is why I gave her the name Faith, as an anchor she could carry with her always.
Though we have been apart, I see that Ella Faith lives in abundance. Since becoming her mother, I have come to understand what love really means. After spending around seven years here in the UK, there are days I wish I had brought with me a piece of her blanket; something to hold when the ache of missing her becomes too heavy.
The early years in the UK were some of the hardest of my life. I was far from family, far from friends, and far from my daughter, the child I had once held close in the darkness. I came here full of hope, having been promised the opportunity to study and build a better life for both of us. But instead, I found myself stripped of freedom, dignity, joy, peace, and the will to live.
I became a victim of trafficking. I endured homelessness, hunger, abuse, isolation, addiction, and grief. I have lost, I have battled—within myself and against a harsh immigration system. And still I am.
But through it all, Faith—my daughter’s name, my belief—remained!
When I first went to Paisley, where I lived from July 2022 to early 2024, I had a pink scarf on my hair. After a long day and season of tough times, I met a nurse who smiled warmly and said, “Oh, I love your scarf! The print is beautiful.” Then she asked me gently, “Do you know that you will be living in Paisley now?”
In that moment, I smiled. The pink scarf reminded me of that first small gift of hope I had chosen for my daughter, the soft pink linen shirt. It felt like a full circle. Later, I discovered the pattern on the scarf was Paisley, as it was a bandana!
That was my first day there, in a sexual health clinic, and hearing the nurse tell me that made me feel safe and at home.
No, I am slowly rebuilding.
I am a strong woman, a loving mother, and a loyal friend.
I am a reporter for Migrant Women Press, a passionate community development student at the University of Glasgow, and a volunteer in spaces that shaped and held me when everything else fell apart. I am soon to take up a new role with Kairos Women+, continuing my commitment to supporting and empowering women and marginalized communities.
Today, I use my voice to empower others with similar experiences.
I am reclaiming my life, my confidence, and my purpose, one day at a time. I take up space, stay curious, and surround myself with people who bring out the smile in me.
I am holding onto Faith. Always.
I love Paisley.
Laura x.
