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She first moved to Malta in 2013 to study English, a decision she said she took due to limited opportunities in her home country.

“My son was five-years-old at the time and I had no choice but to leave him at my parents’ house so I could go and try to create a better future for me and him,” she recounted.

My original plan was to stay in Malta for only two months but ended up staying the entire year as my English learning wasn’t progressing fast enough and I simply couldn’t leave before my trip was worthwhile.”

Charlene left Malta but returned to work at a hotel in 2019, leaving her son with her parents in Brazil as she paid for his schooling and the rent of her parents’ apartment, all while sorting out the necessary documents to bring him over.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and Malta closed its borders, Charlene – like many people – assumed it would only be a matter of weeks before life returns to normal. However, it dragged out and the lack of tourists meant no work for her.

However, she found a blessing in the form of her Maltese landlord, who let her go four months without paying her rent.

“He was a blessing sent from God,” she said. “If not for him, I don’t know how I could survive.”

Charlene found other jobs to pay her bills and provide for her son, and soon found that she had spent almost three years apart from him.

“Arranging for him to move to Malta required a lot of documents – and that required a lot of money as well – and here I was, barely getting back on my feet financially after Covid, and I still had to wait.”

When election protests broke out in Brazil, Charlene realised she had to bring her son over.

“I flew to Brazil to surprise him on his 15th birthday. Only my brother knew I was coming so it was a huge shock for my parents as well,” she said.

“I arrived at my parents’ apartment when my son was still at his soccer practice so I had to wait another two hours to see him. Those two hours took forever to go by, but soon enough he arrived home to his surprise birthday party, and when our eyes locked we just burst into tears and hugged as a whole lifetime was between us.”

“I could not believe the man he grew into. My baby. My heart was finally full. I had it all once again, in my arms. Nothing mattered anymore.”

“After two weeks, I arranged everything for my son to come with me to Malta and now  we are home. Now my heart can rest because I’m not scared for my son’s safety anymore, and he is here with me. Everyday.”