Just over four years ago, my daughter and I moved to the United States to escape a domestic violence situation and secure our long-term safety. We left everything behind to start over in a new country, with nothing but hope and each other.

To say the journey has been difficult would be an understatement. But even in the face of adversity, my daughter and I have chosen to focus on the positive. Though we have little in terms of material wealth, we give back by volunteering in our community. It’s our way of reminding ourselves that we still have the most important things: love, resilience, and each other.

Financially, we live very simply. So when we were invited to join a Girl Scouts Destination trip to Greece and Turkey, my first thought was, there’s just no way. However, my daughter is holding on to the hope that (with the help of scholarships, grants, and careful budgeting) she can make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality.

She began saving from our modest budget, sold some of her belongings, and asked friends and mentors for scholarship ideas. That’s how we learned about Travelnitch. Receiving this grant would be a crucial step toward turning that dream into an achievable and unforgettable experience. 

As immigrants, we deeply understand the value of experiencing different cultures. Travel opens minds, builds empathy, and nurtures dreams. For us, this trip is a symbol of what’s possible when you refuse to let your circumstances define your future.  It would empower a young girl who has overcome so much to see the world not as something out of reach, but as something she is a part of.