Candy’s Story: From Shelter to Psychology Student

When Candy Rosario Condori Vargas arrived at the shelter at just eight years old, she carried the weight of circumstances no child should face. Today, at 18, she is a university student pursuing a degree in psychology — living proof that God’s restoration is real and that every child deserves the chance to dream.

Growing up at the shelter was not easy. But within those walls, Candy found something she had been missing: safety, support, and people who believed in her even when she struggled to believe in herself. Through consistent care, biblical teaching, and a structured environment, the wounds of her early childhood began to heal.

“Looking back, I can clearly see how God healed my wounds, guided my steps, and gave me the strength to keep going even in the most difficult times,” Candy shares. “The shelter was not just a refuge — it was a home where I learned values, hope, and discipline.”

As she grew, Candy began to see that her story was not defined by her circumstances but by God’s purpose. Doors opened that she never imagined possible. When she graduated high school and applied for the prestigious Beca 18 scholarship — a competitive national scholarship in Peru — she was afraid. But she was also full of faith.

She was accepted.

“Receiving that scholarship was an answer from God, a confirmation that He has great plans for my life,” Candy says. “For me, it was more than an academic opportunity — it was a gift, a miracle, and proof that God never forgets His children.”

Now studying psychology at the university level, Candy’s vision extends far beyond her own success. She wants to give back — to help others the way she was helped, and to serve as living proof that restoration, faith, and purpose can rewrite any story.

“My greatest desire is that my life be a testament to what God can do,” she says. “That others may see in my story that He is able to lift up, heal, and transform lives.”

Your support made Candy’s story possible. Every donation to Restoring Children International helps provide the shelter, education, and spiritual foundation that turns stories of hardship into testimonies of hope.