Founder Story — Prodesta Moore

I didn’t build BUYDC from theory.

I built it from lived experience; from hunger, darkness, and the fear of not knowing how I would care for my family.

I know what it is to go to bed hungry and wake up still hungry.

I know what it is to walk into work every day pretending everything was fine, smiling, leading, performing excellence, while silently praying the lights would come back on at home.

I know what it feels like to bathe in cold water, eat the little you have, and stretch meals that were never enough.

I know what homelessness feels like, not the kind seen in statistics, but the kind that sleeps in someone’s garage for months hoping no one notices, hoping no one asks, hoping tomorrow is different.

And I know what shame feels like; the shame of silence, of “I’m okay,” when really, you are breaking inside.

This organization was not born from charity,

It was born from survival.

From resilience.

From understanding.

Because I have lived the darkness, I recognize that look in other women’s eyes.

Because I have felt the fear of tomorrow, I fight to make sure another mother doesn’t have to.

And because I survived what many don’t speak about; i know stand as a voice for those who are still living it.

BUYDC exists to help women move from struggle to stability.

From “barely making it” to building a life they can stand in with dignity.

Not just feeding the need, but fueling transformation.

Not just offering relief, but restoring independence, confidence, and hope.

If I can be the hand I once needed;

If we can help one woman keep her lights on, feed her children, learn new skills, stand again with pride, then every painful chapter of my life was not in vain.

This is why I fight.

This is why BUYDC exists.

And this — is why I am asking for your support.

The Bahamas Urban Youth Development Center (BUYDC) has been a lifeline for vulnerable women, youth, families, and survivors of violence since 2012.

But today, our organization is facing the biggest crisis in its history, and we need your help.

⭐ What Happened & Why We Need Your Support

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Nassau location experienced a dramatic increase in rent costs. This unexpected financial burden forced the landlord to lock the facility, leaving us unable to access the very tools and equipment we need to serve the community.

This means today, all of our operational tools are trapped behind locked doors, including:

• A fully equipped computer lab (10 computers)

• Six brand-new sewing machines

• Three furnished staff workstations with desktop computers

• Printers and office machines

• Our entire women’s drop-in center supplies

• Our small bakery operation, a sustainability project where we baked cookies and pastries weekly to support our programs

Everything we built over years of hard work — tools, equipment, revenue streams, and program spaces — is currently inaccessible because of an outstanding rent debt of $22,000.

To regain access, we only need to clear a portion of this balance so the landlord can release our equipment. Once released, we can continue a manageable payment plan and immediately restart programs.

⭐ The Impact on Our Clients Has Been Devastating

The shutdown has caused every major BUYDC program to be put on hold:

❌ Computer and digital skills classes

Many students depended on our computer lab for job applications, online learning, and career development.

❌ Job readiness & workforce training

Unemployed women, youth, and vulnerable adults relied on our resume support, mock interviews, and job placement assistance.

❌ Women’s empowerment & small group sessions

These groups provided emotional support, healing spaces, trauma recovery, and mentorship.

❌ Advancement for Health Program

A breakthrough program supporting commercial sexual workers who were trying to leave the streets.

Women came for:

• Skills training

• Stipends to help them attend

• Clothing for interviews

• Budgeting & money management classes

• Life skills development

• HIV prevention education

• Free HIV testing using oral swabs

• Counseling referrals and psychosocial support

These women were making real progress — and then the pandemic forced us to shut the doors.

❌ Drop-in center for survivors of abuse

Women experiencing domestic violence, workplace harassment, and sexual exploitation lost a safe place to turn.

❌ Food support & emergency assistance

Families who depended on us for emergency groceries and hygiene items no longer have access.

Clients continue to contact us weekly, asking:

“When are the programs starting again?”

But without access to our equipment, staff offices, and computers, we are unable to operate.

⭐ Rebuilding Across Two Locations

The good news:

In 2025, we opened a new Florida administrative office, fully active and preparing to support programs in both the U.S. and The Bahamas.

While we await IRS 501(c)(3) approval, we are launching virtual programs — but we cannot fully resume operations until our Nassau equipment is released.

Your support helps us:

• Reopen the drop-in center

• Restart training programs

• Provide food and emergency care kits

• Re-launch the bakery sustainability project

• Restore computer classes and workforce training

• Re-engage support for vulnerable and at-risk women

• Rebuild the outreach and prevention services

• Move toward reopening a physical Bahamas location in 2026

⭐ Our Initial Goal: $30,000 USD

Your donation will help us:

• Pay down the landlord debt enough to unlock our equipment

• Recover our computer lab, sewing machines, and office resources

• Resume essential services immediately

• Provide emergency assistance for women and families

• Fund virtual programs in the U.S. and The Bahamas

• Stabilize operations while awaiting full nonprofit approval

Once we meet this goal, we will expand it to grow our women’s drop-in center and emergency shelter.

⭐ Your Support Can Rebuild Lives

Every donation — $20, $50, or $100 — takes us closer to reopening our doors.

You are not just helping a nonprofit.

You are helping:

• A woman trying to escape abuse

• A young person trying to find their first job

• A mother seeking safety and dignity

• A survivor healing from trauma

• A community fighting to rise again

We are ready to rebuild.

We simply need the chance — and your support makes that possible.

❤️ Thank you for helping BUYDC reopen, recover, and restore hope where it is needed most.

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Program supplies and mentorship stipends

• Rent and utility costs for our youth center

• Transportation and meals for youth events

• Administrative support to keep operations running

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