Hello, my name is Yasmine. I am 27 years old, and I’m ready to move forward and build a new life of independence.

When I was 18, my school discovered the physical abuse I was facing at home. Instead of receiving support, I was kicked out by my mother. At that time, I had just started college but had no safety net for housing or food. Without support, I moved from house to house, trying to survive while holding on to my dreams.

Over time, I turned to entrepreneurship. I began taking on any honest work I could find, which taught me resilience and independence. I later met my partner, and during the pandemic, we worked together out of his car until we managed to secure an apartment. For a short time, his mother offered financial help, but when my partner returned to work and I no longer had access to a car to earn income, that support turned into pressure. It has since become a tool of control and emotional abuse, leaving us in a difficult and unstable environment.

Despite these challenges, we keep working hard. My partner is employed, but in Los Angeles our living expenses are over $4,000 a month, which consumes his entire paycheck. This makes it impossible for us to save or build. If we relocate to Arizona, our living expenses will drop to under $2,000 a month, giving us the freedom to finally grow. My partner is fully willing to take on additional work once we move so we can achieve stability faster.

As for me, I have not stopped pursuing my future. I am building an online business in digital marketing and content creation for brands (UGC – User Generated Content), creating videos and photos for companies to use in ads. Alongside that, I plan to return to school through Arizona State University (ASU) to pursue a degree in Computer Science, combining my creativity with technology.

At 27, I no longer want to be defined by what happened to me as a teenager. I want to move on, build stability with my partner, and create a safe, self-sufficient future.

With your help, we can finally take the next step. Your support will go toward:

• Getting my driver’s license so I can return to field work (notary and inspection jobs) and drive for new opportunities

• Relocating from Los Angeles to Arizona where rent is more affordable

• Continuing to grow my UGC business in a stable environment

• Returning to college at ASU to pursue my long-term career in Computer Science

Any donation, no matter the size, will help us leave a harmful environment and create a secure, self-sufficient future. Thank you so much for reading my story and for supporting this new chapter of our lives.