Rita’s story is one that lingers. For years, she lived on society’s edges, surviving by collecting bottles for spare change. Each day was about endurance, each night about getting through the cold and loneliness. Once, she had dreams of stability and belonging, but homelessness slowly replaced hope with survival.
Her life unraveled after the loss of her only son. Grief, without support, turned into isolation, and isolation into life on the streets. Over time, Rita became invisible. Employers dismissed her, strangers looked away, and her worn appearance became a barrier she couldn’t overcome, despite her desire to work and rejoin society.
Everything changed when she met Shafag Novruz, a makeup artist known for helping women shaped by hardship. Shafag didn’t see a project or a viral moment. She saw a human being carrying years of pain, deserving of compassion, dignity, and care.
