Yasmine's Story
Hey, I’m Yasmine. I was sleeping rough and lost in a world of partying when I found out I was pregnant. I knew I wanted better for my baby, so I reached out to Youth Futures’ Nest program, and it changed everything.
I came to Australia from Africa at eight, a refugee with my mum and siblings. When my dad joined us at 12, things got tough. He was violent, and my mum couldn’t protect me. By 13, I was in crisis, feeling alone and even tried to end my life. Child Protection Services stepped in, moving me to a hostel at 14. There, I fell into a crowd that introduced me to drugs and alcohol. For years, I bounced between hostels, couches, and the streets.
Pregnancy was my wake-up call. At five months along, I moved into a Nest property in January. The support was incredible andI learned how to build a safe home and got help from a Drug Education Worker to stay on track and welcome my healthy baby boy. I poured my heart into making our home cozy and even reconnected with my mum and sisters after five years apart, hoping they’ll be part of his life.
With Nest’s support, I’ve moved into my own house, ready to be the best mum I can be. I’m so grateful for this fresh start.
Thank you for the opportunity the NEST program has given me. If it wasn’t for you I would still be living in the street and probably wouldn’t have been able to keep my baby. My experiences have taught me that even when things get tough to always keep believing in myself.