Jesuina Ximenes

Jesuina grew up in East Timor. She is the youngest in her family and has 8 siblings. Big families are common in East Timor and this was something she had to adjust to and misses in NI. In East Timor life was difficult, most people are from agriculture and rural communities and work very hard. Jesuina explains although life wasn’t easy, she grew up in a happy family and her parents always supported and provided for her and her siblings.  Her mum provided for her family by making traditional dresses and selling them. In this way she could afford education for her children. Her tradition clothes remain very special to her for these very reasons.

She went to school and then went on to university to study Management Information. In 2015 her partner came to Dungannon to work in Moy Park.  She made the decision to leave her country to come to join her partner in NI in 2017. It was a hard decision as she was the youngest daughter and she was very close to her family but there was little opportunity in East Timor and wages were low. She wanted to make a better life for her family and children. She left her baby with her sister when she came first, this was a very hard decision to make too but she says “you know if you want to change your life to get a better one, you have to stand up and keep going.” She started work the day after she arrived in Dungannon, in a mushroom factory and now works a full time job in customer services as well as looking after her young family.

She returned to East Timor in 2019 and brought her son and her Mum back to NI with her. She felt it was a better life for her mum and as an old woman life and health services would be better for her. Jesuina has settled status now and lives here with her partner and 3 children – 3,6 and 9 years. They all speak Tetum at home, this is really important especially as her mum speaks very little English. Her family and children are very important to her. She wants them to get a good education. Family is her priority. NI is home but she misses her family, food and weather in East Timor. Food in her country is often vegetarian and some of the fruit and vegetables can’t be bought here but she still likes to cook traditional food as much as she can. Hospitality is a traditional she maintains.

Her education has been really important to her and when she came first to Dungannon she was supported by First Steps Women’s Centre especially through English classes. It hasn’t always been easy and she explains how sometimes she has been judged because of the colour of her skin but she overcomes such barriers and challenges herself not to judge others. She knows her worth, her value and how hard she works to provide for herself and her family.

Jesuina and her family are Catholic and attend mass, their faith is very important to them. They celebrate Christmas, East Timor Independence Day and other holidays celebrated in East Timor.

She loves living in Mid-Ulster, she loves the people and community here and is happy her children have the opportunity to get a good education. Despite many challenges Jesuina has faced, she believes when you put your mind to things, anything is possible. Life is tough but you just keep going. Things will change. She is very determined and full of energy, joy and life even though life has dealt hard blows and there have been really difficult  times.

Her tattoo – Bunga Terate – a flower somewhat like a water lily. It looks beautiful but under the murky waters are twisted roots and it reminds her that life can be hard but we can still thrive, flourish and be beautiful despite all.

Jesuina’s motto for life in her mother tongue is “Hu’u feto ida ne’ebe forte, ha’u bele halo ida-ne’e”.

“I am a strong woman and I can do it”.