Eve’s Story
Dear YWCA Central Maine Supporters,
People are the reason behind everything we do at YWCA Central Maine. Each person that participates in our programs, attends our events, leads our organization, or donates to the YWCA has a story. These stories have inspired us to make an impact in our community since 1878.
I want to share one of these stories with you, one about determination, hard work, and hope. Hawa Ali, known lovingly as Eve, joined the YWCA board of directors in 2024. She is also a parent of a preschool child in our care, but that is not how her story began. Eve was born in Djibouti, Africa, where her family faced discrimination and extreme hardship. Her family was forced to live apart as her father traveled for work in order to secure safety and enable them to create the life they dreamed of.
Years later, while living in Kenya for her father’s Ambassador assignment, Eve enrolled in a master’s program in Peace & International Relations and volunteered at the Djibouti Embassy. However, being a young woman, Eve was often ostracized and disempowered in her pursuits. Equipped with the strength she gained from watching her parents’ overcome obstacles, and sheer determination, Eve asked her parents for permission to move to the United States to follow her American dream as an empowered woman.
With the support of her family, $300, a family member to stay with, and a plane ticket, 24-year-old Eve was ready to start her new life – scared, uncertain, and far from home, but determined. She immediately realized how much of a challenge she had ahead of her. Once able to work, she worked for small local businesses and also volunteered at community organizations to gain skills, learn systems, and integrate into her new community. The skills Eve learned quickly helped her become a realtor; she also accepted a role as a Program Coordinator for a local nonprofit. It was here that Eve discovered YW Strive, a YWCA workforce-development program she partnered with to help young adults gain skills for employment. Impressed by the YWCA’s approach, mission, and programs, Eve sought out a position on the board of directors to work alongside strong women leaders in her community and to further develop her leadership and decision-making skills.
Eve has enrolled her son Amir in YWCA’s preschool. She knows how often low-income and marginalized communities struggle, and she wants to give Amir an opportunity for early childhood education. As a working mother, Eve has peace of mind knowing that, at the YWCA, Amir eats nutritious food, takes swim lessons, and receives affordable, quality care.
“When parents thrive, the community thrives. When our children thrive, the future becomes brighter. The YWCA offers unlimited opportunities for families to succeed.” – Eve Ali
I am sharing Eve’s story with you because it is one of hundreds that reside within the walls of the YWCA. With your tax-deductible gift, we can continue the work we do each day to provide childcare, food, and swim lessons to children like Amir, provide workforce development programs in the community like YW Strive, and empower strong women like Eve to join leadership positions and influence our work. Donate today by going to ywcamaine.org or scan the QR code below.
With great gratitude,
Melanie LaMore Gagnon, CEO
P.S. The YWCA impacts hundreds of people like Eve and Amir everyday. By sending your gift today we can invest it back into our programs and services and continue to share more stories like Eve’s.