Testimonials
Hello, my name is Klaudia, and I am a trustee of Petronela’s Hope. We all have different stories and paths that life has put us on. My story involves a type of domestic abuse that is not always visible to the naked eye and can be very difficult to prove. I was born in Poland as an only child to a single-parent home that turned into a very lonely and scary place after my stepfather entered the scene. I lost access to my mom, was starved, abused, neglected, and rejected throughout my childhood, with nowhere to turn. As a teenager, I started using drugs, which only deepened my depression. After moving to the UK, I tried to heal and mend the cracks in my soul. However, my vulnerability and continued drug use led me into another abusive relationship—this time involving heavy financial and emotional abuse. I lived in isolation with my small child, trapped in a controlling and exhausting relationship with nowhere to turn, no hope, and no love.I overcame this when I found the strength and bravery to say no. It meant getting up, grabbing what I could fit in the boot of my car, and driving to the other side of the country in faith that, this time, I would not allow darkness and addiction to follow me.To me, Petronela's Hope is a charity that holds your hand, guides you, and helps you navigate the dark and scary road many women face after leaving an abuser. The collective love, understanding, and genuine care that Petronela surrounds women and children with is the missing link in the community we live in today.
My name is Kassia, and I am a survivor of domestic violence, along with my two children (ages 3 and 4). I am from Poland, and I ran away with my kids to escape my ex. He abused me in so many ways, and I couldn’t handle it anymore. He drank large amounts of alcohol, which made him even more abusive. Eventually, he started to target my son, too. I didn’t know what to do, so I contacted my friend Petronela, who began helping me from the very first day. I stayed with my children in her home for over a month until another organization helped us get a house in a different area. During that time with Petronela, she introduced me to art. I was so grateful because art allowed me to express my pain through painting and music, which really helped me get through such a hard time. Petronela had a piano in her home, and I started learning to play, which made me realize how much I love music. My oldest son also began to paint more colorful pictures, and that made me so happy. Petronela paid for everything—for me and my children—until the very last day. She also helped me get legal aid and supported me through the court process. She came with me to every court hearing, and so many times, she took care of my children so I could start therapy, which really helped me heal. My biggest struggle was that I didn’t speak English, and I felt very ashamed of that. But Petronela was always willing to help me with interpreting, and she encouraged me to start studying English. Eventually, I did, and for that, I am very grateful. Thanks to Petronela’s help and support, I am now a more independent woman and mother. I am so pleased and deeply grateful for the help and support I received from Petronela’s Hope. Thank you!
My name is Karol, and I’m from Slovakia. I am a father of four children. The mother of my children left us two years ago, and I became a single father overnight. I know Petronela (Hope) because she lives in the same city, and she is also from Slovakia. People told me, “If you have any problems, go to Petronela—she will help you.” I had issues filling out documents, and my English is not very good, so I went to look for her help. When I met her, she was so kind and willing to help me. She immediately took action to address my problems. During our conversation, she mentioned that she gives free piano and guitar lessons to children. The next day, I brought my children to her house, and she started teaching them piano. My daughter loves the piano, and my son enjoys playing the drums. I am so grateful for the help that Petronela’s Hope offers to single parents and victims of domestic violence. My children have been visiting Hope for over a year now, and Petronela has never once called to complain about noise or their behavior. My children are calmer and happier, and they love spending time at the art club, Hope. At the art club, they can choose from different activities, which I think is excellent. I can see how much this helps both me and my children. Even I found something for myself! I always wanted to learn to play the guitar, but I thought I was too old. Petronela encouraged me, saying, “It’s never too late to start.” One day, I asked her if she could teach me, and she immediately scheduled time for me in her music classes. Thanks to her, I discovered my passion for music. I now play the guitar and am even planning to set up a band! Hope also provided me with counseling, which completely changed my mindset. It helped me become a better father and a better person. Thank you so much for everything, Hope, and for everything you have done for me and my children.
My name is Annia, and I came from Ukraine, where there is a war. I have two children, ages 8 and 6. I came to England through friends, but the situation was difficult. I lived in a single room with my children, and my friends drank alcohol every day, were noisy, and behaved rudely. I was very disappointed and unhappy. My husband had to stay in Ukraine because of the war, and I left with the children to give them a better life and protect them from the unrest. When I arrived in Chatham, I wanted to register my children for school, but I had a big problem explaining what I needed because of the language barrier. Then a woman walked into the room with a big smile. She looked at me and, in my language, asked if I spoke Russian. I said yes, and she said she spoke a little as well. She asked me, “What do you need help with?” That woman was Petronela. Petronela not only helped me register my children for school but also helped me find new accommodation by contacting the council. Soon after, I moved to a better place. Later, I received the very sad news that my husband had died in the war. I lost all my strength to continue living. I believed he would join us one day, but my whole world collapsed. I contacted Petronela again, and she listened to me, understood me, and helped me. Her daily care and support for me and my children gave me the energy to live again. Petronela’s Hope also helped my mother and sister come to England, where they have been living for over a year now. Petronela managed all the paperwork so I could receive the allowances I needed as a single mother. She also contacted Street Angels Gillingham, who helped furnish our entire home. I am so grateful for everything that Petronela’s Hope charity has done, along with other charities. Petronela even found me a Russian-speaking therapist, whom I still visit today. Petronela’s Hope paid for my therapy for three months. Later, I started going to school, and so did my sister. I now attend English lessons, which have given me confidence. Thanks to Petronela’s Hope, I have started living again—not only for my children but for myself. I also found a job, and Petronela’s Hope helped me arrange childcare. My children still go there after school while I am at work. I recommend anyone who is struggling or doesn’t know how to move forward to turn to Petronela’s Hope. I was ashamed for a long time because I didn’t know many things as a single mother. Petronela’s Hope showed me that it’s okay—everyone learns at their own pace, and sometimes you just need to accept help. Thank you, Petronela, for giving me and my children hope again. My children are part of Petronela's Hope Club, and Petronela gives my daughter free piano lessons without asking for anything in return. My daughter is very happy, and my children love going to Petronela's Hope Club. There are so many activities that Petronela organizes, but I feel especially grateful when she takes my children to the art club. Every time my children come home from the club, they say, “This was the best day!” This gives me the chance to relax at home as a single mom or work overtime when I need to. I believe that Petronela's Hope is incredibly important for our community. A close friend of mine was struggling with serious domestic violence at home while caring for her three children. I immediately contacted Petronela, and she called my friend that very day to start helping her. Thanks to her support, my friend’s husband was arrested and is now in prison. Petronela's Hope continues to support my friend and her children, for which I am truly grateful.
I'd like to share a powerful story about how Petronela's Hope has made a difference in the life of a young girl. A year ago, I met an 18-year-old named Lucia (from Slovakia) who confided in me about the abuse she was suffering at the hands of her partner. She recognised that their relationship was unhealthy, yet she felt trapped and fearful of leaving him because she was entirely dependent on him for support. He controlled their finances and accompanied her on shopping trips, often denying her the things she needed. When Lucia became pregnant, her partner callously insisted that the child couldn't possibly be his and pressured her to get an abortion. It was during this difficult time that a friend introduced her to Petronela's Hope, an organisation founded by a compassionate Slovak woman dedicated to helping those in need. After learning more about the charity, I encouraged Lucia to reach out for help. She agreed, and we arranged to meet during one of her walks with her dog. Even during our meeting, her partner called her multiple times, demanding to know her whereabouts. Lucia had to prove she was alone, showcasing the extent of his control over her life. For two years, she had been cut off from her family because her partner forbade any contact. But with the support of Petronela's Hope, Lucia found the strength to reclaim her life. She reported the domestic violence to the police, which led to her partner's arrest for drug possession and trafficking. Lucia also faced a difficult legal battle for custody of her child. I am incredibly proud of her courage in speaking out against domestic violence. With the therapy sessions and legal support provided by Petronela's Hope, she has not only started to heal but has also embraced her role as a devoted mother to her son, Alex. Later, Lucia shared her gratitude for the charity: "Thank you to the entire Petronela's Hope team for the invaluable support you provide. Your work is truly making a difference. When I reported the abuse to the police, the Petronela’s Hope team was with me. They listened to me whenever I needed to talk or cry, and they were always by my side. I even had thoughts that it might be better to have an abortion, but Petronela reached out to me every day to remind me I wasn’t alone and that they cared about me." Thank you to the entire Petronela's Hope team for the invaluable support you provide. Your work is truly making a difference.
I was a mother of five children and a wife, and my disabled mother, whom I had been taking care of since 2017, was still living with us. On 2 January 2021, my husband called the police and gave false testimony against me. When I was arrested, my children saw it, and I found myself in custody. I thought that I would soon go home, so I took it as a break because in recent years I had done nothing else but take care of five children, housework, and my disabled mother. Later, I was released from prison, but I couldn't go home for 28 days and thus became homeless from the bottom. I didn't understand at all why my husband had given false testimony against me, and I didn't want anything else but to be home with my children and my mother again. I immediately called my best friend Monika, and she just told me that she would pray and then hung up the phone. I called my pastor, and he didn't believe me either; he didn't offer help, and I was completely at a loss as to what to do. Then I found two wonderful people who took me into their home and said I could stay with them, for which I was very grateful. I couldn't even contact my husband, the father of my children, because of bail conditions. It was the hardest month of my life; I lost everything day by day that I had built with my husband over the last seven years. I started praying even more and asking God for help, but the whole time I was confused and didn't understand what was happening. Later, during the investigation after three months, my husband didn't want me to return home to him, the children, and my mother. He said that I was mentally ill, that I was an unfit mother, and that I needed to get treatment. So I said enough is enough—he had no right to throw me out like this—and I contacted social services and child protection. I started fighting for what belongs to me, which is our children together. Later, it turned out that my husband didn't want me at home because he had started cheating on me with my best friend, who had been my best friend for over eleven years. I never expected this betrayal from her, and I was completely desperate. Again, God gave me the strength to move on and focus on what belongs to me, which is my children. And it happened—after 111 days, I got my children back, and the social worker helped us get to a crisis house. Later, we moved into a house where, four years ago, I had to start from the beginning with the children. I realised that I had gone through emotional trauma and abuse from my husband (now ex—we have divorced), and I accepted professional help through therapy. It also helped a lot that I started putting all my feelings into painting, music, and singing. It was hard for me to get through it all, but God gave me the strength, and I thank Him for glorifying Himself with this. He sent complete strangers into my path who helped us get back on our feet, and I am very grateful for that. During the trial, it emerged through evidence that my ex-husband had lied about everything so he could have a relationship with another woman and that they had planned it all to get rid of me. It took me a long time to forgive him, but I did forgive him, and only thanks to God. I also thank God for everything that I went through because I understand every episode of domestic violence. Finally, I am free from violence, as are my children, and for that, I am very grateful because we live in peace. I thank God that I could stand up for what the little ones need, which is to have children. I want to continue to help those who need it through Petronela's Hope. I believe that everyone deserves to live peacefully, happily, and freely.