peter
“I would certainly not be here today without Sarah. When I initially went into detox with Dublin Simon I wasn’t thinking about recovery. I just went in to stay away from all the madness on the streets for a few days. By then, I was living on the streets for seven months. I was so far removed from society that my life was only based around survival day-after-day. When I was in detox, Sarah came to talk to me. She asked about my life so I told her my story. She must have seen something in me because she kept nurturing me and looking after me – and don’t get me wrong, all the staff in Dublin Simon are wonderful but I felt she really took me under her wings. Through her, they instilled me with all the life skills I’d lost living on the streets. I told her about my dream as a young girl before I became pregnant at 16. I was part of a football team, I loved playing football and I wanted to become a coach one day. With her supported I stayed in the recovery program and trough that I met the lads at the health and wellbeing program they encouraged me to get back into it, to play again. As scary and impossible as is sounded, I cannot tell you what that meant to me. They gave me a goal, something I didn’t have for a very long time. After the recovery program, I started to play in the homeless football team and I never stopped. Since then, I got to represent Ireland in Brazil and Copenhagen for the homeless world cup, Neymar’s Union Cup, and at the Global Goals. I got injured in the last and while waiting for an operation I went back to study and I did a coaching course. I got my coaching badges and although I can’t play at the moment, I’ve started coaching the girls. It’s mad to think that all it took for me to get to where I am today, was to have someone believe in me and teach me that I could.”
This post was highlighted by @DublinSimonCommunity with the help of Spectrum.Life
188 referrals were received through Dublin Simon Health & Well Being service last year, providing access to exercise facilities and expertise including personal training, nutritional advice, and mindfulness.
The Dublin Simon Community is closing doors on homelessness for over 50 years now! Find out more HERE!