"You can be helped, and you can help others"
- Fostering Stories
For Luth, fostering had been in the back of her mind for years.
"When I came to the UK, I had no family around me. No mum, no dad, no brother, no sister."
But despite being thousands of miles from home she met friends, colleagues and members of her church community who helped her settle and build a life for herself and her young family.
"I met some wonderful people who supported me. I didn’t feel like I was lost’
The experience stayed with her.
"I always thought that one day, if people could help me, then I could help somebody else."
Today, Luth is a teaching assistant, a single mum to two daughters, and a foster carer to a young boy who has been part of her family for the past six months.
Making fostering work alongside a school career
One of Luth's biggest concerns was balancing fostering with her role as a teaching assistant.
With the support of her headteacher, she reduced her working hours to create time for training, appointments and meetings.
"My headteacher was really supportive, which made a huge difference."
While managing both roles takes organisation, Luth says the two have strengthened each other.
The training she has received around attachment, safeguarding, trauma and child development has deepened her understanding of the children she supports both at home and in school.
"When I look at children now, I often understand their behaviour differently."
"The knowledge I've gained through fostering has helped me support children in my classroom too."
"There is a lot of organising, but it can be done."
Building trust, one day at a time
When the young boy first arrived, everything was new for both of them.
He had experienced significant change in his life and was understandably worried and unsettled.
"I always reminded him that he was safe, that people cared about him and that we were here to help."
Slowly, trust began to grow.
Through family meals, cooking together, bedtime stories, homework and everyday routines, he became part of family life.
"My daughters learned from him, and he learned from them."
Star of the Day!
Looking back over the last six months, Luth is incredibly proud of the progress he has made.
From trying new foods and experiencing new places, to thriving at school, she has watched his confidence grow.
One moment stands out above all others.
"When he got a Star of the Day certificate at school, we went out for a meal to celebrate."
The family was even able to take him on holiday for the first time, giving him experiences he had never had before.
"When he talks about who he wants to be when he grows up, whether that's a chef or a pilot, I tell him he can be anyone he wants. The word is his."
Luth
"Don't be afraid to try"
For anyone considering fostering, especially single parents or people working in education, Luth has a simple message.
"Don't be scared."
She understands that many people worry about whether they have enough time, enough experience or enough support.
"I had people ask me, 'Are you sure you want to do that?'"
But six months on, she has no regrets.
"There is so much support available and you are never doing it on your own."
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