Ingrid’s Story
Before Turtle Dove
Ingrid was 16 when she first heard about Turtle Dove from her teacher while staying in a mental health inpatient unit. She had been struggling at school, facing severe bullying that had seriously affected her mental health. Ingrid had been out of school for a year before her admission and felt isolated, experiencing depression and anxiety, especially around going out and speaking with others. Looking back, she describes that time on the ward as ‘lonely and hopeless’.
Discovering Turtle Dove
Turtle Dove was introduced to Ingrid as an opportunity to build confidence. Her self-esteem had been deeply affected by the negative experiences she had at school. When Kate, Turtle Dove’s Co-founder and Director, first met her, it was clear that Ingrid was in a fragile state. She found it difficult to talk and avoided eye contact. Despite this, Kate saw determination in her and began to witness remarkable growth over time.
Ingrid’s first session was a Peer Support activity, where the group designed animations to create an induction video explaining Turtle Dove’s work. For Ingrid, stepping into this social activity was very daunting – she was nervous about meeting new people. Yet, she chose to stay because of the welcoming environment and soon signed up to help at a large wedding event with 200 guests. The busyness of the event helped distract her from her her anxiety.
Initially, due to her anxiety, Ingrid worked in the kitchen washing up and filling teapots. To Kate’s surprise, she soon volunteered to go front of house, serving guests when the caterers needed extra support. This marked a big step in her confidence and willingness to challenge herself.
After Joining Turtle Dove
Since enrolling with Turtle Dove in 2019, Ingrid has completed 17 events and participated in 6 support sessions, totaling 142 hours. One particularly memorable experience was an intergenerational event, where she served afternoon tea at a sheltered living site for elderly residents.
Before the event, Ingrid felt nervous, unsure of what to say to the residents. After handing out tea, she sat with two gentlemen and struck up a conversation. She thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their experiences and even expressed a desire to return independently to offer befriending.
Ingrid also benefited from building connections with the other young women involved with Turtle Dove. With each event she attended, her anxiety about interacting with others gradually decreased. While she still experiences nerves at times, her confidence in herself has grown significantly.
Reflecting on her journey, Ingrid shared that through working with Turtle Dove was the first time she truly felt useful and realised she had something to contribute.
Now
Looking back, Ingrid reflects that she never imagined she would be where she is today: “I couldn’t imagine doing it, my life has improved a lot. I feel proud of myself”.
Today, Ingrid has hope and ambition for the future. Since receiving support from Turtle Dove, she has secured various jobs and dreams of travelling around Asia. She loves learning foreign languages and now feels equipped with a toolkit of coping strategies for navigate life’s challenges. Reflecting on her experience, Ingrid said, “Turtle Dove went above and beyond. It sets up opportunities for people, you gain confidence for working, and become versatile for other jobs”.
If you are, or know of a young woman who might benefit from our support, please fill out our referral form here. For school-aged young women, please see our Education Programme.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
