Yonas, 17 years old, CA | 9 DAYS WAITING

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In 2019, Yonas was removed from his family home due to domestic violence between his parents, who have remained incarcerated since then. Although Yonas was devastated upon his entry into foster care, he has sought stability and direction and has evolved into a respectful, highly motivated student and football star. He recently rebuilt an impressive 3.8 GPA after a rough start in high school and self-referred to therapy after stating his desire to be mentally and physically healthy. His interests include welding, anime, sports, and working toward obtaining his driver's license. His primary goals are to graduate high school, attend trade school, and successfully prepare for his future.

Yonas’s holiday wish is a camera because he wants to capture the moments that matter as he steps into adulthood. He has long dreamed of one day having a family of his own, and he looks forward to filling photo albums with memories he can share with them. Since entering foster care, he has shown remarkable resilience and self-advocacy, finding community, reflecting on his past, and planning for his future. A camera would let him document his milestones and happiest moments along the way, one photo at a time.