Meet Ziri: A Real-Life Story of a Project Avary Youth

Have you ever experienced something that changed the course of your entire life? So far, I've had two of these experiences: the day my parents became incarcerated and the day I entered Project Avary.

At age five, my whole world flipped upside down. In what seemed like a split second, both of my parents went to prison and I went into the foster care system.

It was at this time I went into hiding. I was only five years old, and I already felt so much shame. I missed my mom and dad so much. I cried endlessly for them, yet I couldn't tell anyone what I was going through because I knew they would judge me. I felt so alone.

Then, something magical happened: I was introduced to Project Avary. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by other kids who had a similar experience as me. For the first time ever, I had adults within the community telling me that I could become something. I had a family again, and I no longer felt alone.

Project Avary taught me that my struggle and pain can become some of my greatest gifts. My pain has become love and my struggles have become strength. I can now say with sincere confidence that the cycle of incarceration ends with me!

When I think about my future, I'm so excited! I go to college next year and it is my dream to become a social worker and to work for Project Avary. I want to give back the incredible gift I was given. I want to help kids with parents in prison know that they are not along and they too can break the cycle.