Dear Donors,

We have updated Mdm Kamsiah’s campaign story to better reflect her current circumstances, ongoing recovery, and efforts to return to work. The funding goal and intended use of donations remain unchanged, and your support will continue to help her work towards stability and independence. Thank you for your continued kindness and support.

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A Mother Finding Her Way Back

Mdm Kamsiah is 43 this year. When she speaks about her children, her tone shifts, gentler, more certain. They are 22, 19, and 18 now, already building their own lives.

She spent 18 years in prison before being released in 2021. During that time, her marriage broke down, and her relationship with her children became strained. Coming back into the community meant starting from scratch while trying to reconnect with her children.

Since then, she has been making steady efforts to rebuild those relationships, offering what support she can and staying present in their lives.

Unstable Ground, But Trying to Move Forward

Mdm Kamsiah is undergoing her divorce and has moved out of her marital home. Due to her marital and housing situation, she is unable to apply for a rental flat. For now, she is staying with a close friend who has opened her home to her, but this is only temporary.

Finances have been tight. Even attending her medical appointments has been difficult at times because she cannot always afford transport.

There were moments when things felt especially heavy. But with encouragement from her prison officer and her friend, she chooses to keep going. Her children have become the reason she holds on.

Healing While Carrying Responsibilities

After her release, Mdm Kamsiah worked in retail and logistics, taking on different roles to support herself. Still, finding stable employment has not been easy. “With my criminal record, nobody wants to take me in,” she says.

Recently, her mental health declined due to stress and a difficult work environment. On her psychiatrist’s advice, she is now on six months of medical leave and taking medication to help her regulate.

At the same time, her family needs her. Her father has stage four lung cancer and has been given about six months. Her mother is caring for her grandmother, who has dementia. Despite strained relationships, Mdm Kamsiah continues to step in where she can.

“I only managed to learn emotional self-control during my time inside,” she shares. Now, she is trying to apply that in her daily life.

What Your Support Will Help With

Mdm Kamsiah is determined to return to work once her medical leave ends. She wants to regain independence. “I’m willing to learn. I’m a fast learner,” she says.

She is hoping to raise $1,200 to support her employment-related needs as she prepares to re-enter the workforce. This includes transport costs for job interviews, meals on interview days, and other small but necessary expenses that come with job searching.

At the moment, she has no income and has been borrowing from friends just to get by. These added costs make it harder for her to take the steps needed to secure a job.

With this support, she will be able to attend interviews without worrying about whether she can afford the trip or a simple meal. It gives her a fair chance to show up, try, and keep going.

*The campaign goal includes a 1.8% payment processing fee.