During the darkest time in Kyra’s life, she felt hopeless and believed her life had no value. What she didn’t know then was she was on the brink of an incredible transformation.

At 20 years old, she was struggling to find her footing. Her life was marked by instability, moving from one couch to another, sleeping in her car for eight months and trying to escape a toxic, abusive relationship that left her homeless and emotionally exhausted.

“I never had stability,” Kyra said. “I was spiraling and didn’t see a way out. I was suicidal and just trying to survive.”

That’s when the Youth Villages LifeSet program stepped in, a community-based program that helps young adults transition out of foster care and achieve independence and success in adulthood.

“The support I got was exactly what I needed,” she said. “Youth Villages was my lifeline.”

Through LifeSet, Kyra began to rebuild her life piece by piece. Her specialist, Megan, helped her secure resources, apply for a housing voucher, and begin setting personal and financial goals. For the first time, Kyra had a safe place to live and the stability to focus on her future.

Now, just two years later, Kyra is thriving. She’s pursuing a degree in nursing and working in an ICU, gaining hands-on experience in the field she loves. She was recently accepted into the Youth Villages Scholars initiative, designed to help young adults who demonstrate commitment to achieving their educational, vocational or technical skill goals.

“I’m so proud of myself,” she said. “I didn’t see myself getting to this point. Sometimes, I can’t believe this is my life.”

Kyra plans to graduate in 2027, work in an ICU for a year and then become a travel nurse, living in an RV and exploring the country.

“I used to hate when people said, ‘Things will get better,’” she said with a laugh. “I’d think, ‘How do you know that?’ But now I see, it really does get better.”

Through LifeSet, Kyra has learned how to budget, set healthy boundaries and advocate for herself. She even had the chance to share her story in Washington, D.C., speaking to members of Congress about policies that impact young people like her.

“Never in my life did I think I’d be able to do something like that,” she said. “I’m breaking generational curses and building something different for my future.”

Today, Kyra is excited about what lies ahead and knows she is capable of achieving all her goals.

“Life still has challenges,” she said, “but I’m in such a different mindset now. I’m proud of the woman I’m becoming. This journey has been so rewarding.”

About Youth Villages – New England

In collaboration with state child welfare agencies and juvenile justice systems, our services in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island focus on strengthening families to prevent or limit the need for foster care (Intercept) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they enter adulthood (LifeSet).

Donate now to help us expand our reach and build a stronger community.

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