Help Youssef Begin Again.
Donation protected
Help Youssef Begin Again.
Youssef has been creating baklava since he was 16, apprenticing under one of the most famous “sweet shops” in his city. By 24 years old he owned his first bakery with his brother and father.
Then war came to his country.
His home, bakery and sweet shops are now piles of rubble.
He escaped with his life, his family, his craft and determination.
Youssef Akhtarini, his wife and 5 children fled from their home in Aleppo, Syria to safety in Turkey. To reach the border, they rode in the back of a small pick up truck, traversing death and destruction, while military planes flew overhead and shelling could be heard all around them. A trip that would have taken 30 minutes before the war, took over 10 hours. After arriving, they registered as refugees, and were accepted to resettle in the United States — In Providence, Rhode Island; a process that took 2 years; and saw the birth of their youngest daughter, born in Turkey.
Youssef’s dream is to open another bakery in his new home. Like all of those who love to cook, one of his greatest joys is to create food that people love. Youssef’s baklava bakery, serving a wide variety of baklava and authentic Syrian treats will be opening this fall, and he needs your help. Your donation will be used to establish his bakery, from installing a professional kitchen and an inviting space for customers; to point-of-sale software, baklava boxes, signage, website design and initial operating expenses. Youssef needs your support to help him through the bumpy stages of starting a new business.
This is a beautiful opportunity to spread love and kindness as a community of people welcoming and helping a family to begin again.
Please DONATE ... help Youssef start over and support his family of 8, doing what he loves.
Please, SHARE LOVE — and forward this page to your friends and family!
And come to Ives Street in Providence this fall for the best baklava you’ve ever eaten!
Help Youssef BEGIN AGAIN.
*About the author and creator of this GoFundMe page:
My name is Sandy Martin. I am a U.S. Citizen, born and raised in the U.S.A. I met Youssef and his family while volunteering at the refugee resettlement agency in Providence, RI, Dorcas International Instititue of RI (where I continue to volunteer). My husband and I, along with YOU, are helping Youssef to realize his dream of opening a bakery in his new hometown of Providence, Rhode Island so he can support his family doing what he loves. Funds raised for this campaign will be deposited directly into the Aleppo Sweets business account for Youssef’s future bakery on Ives Street in Providence, Rhode Island opening, God willing, Fall 2018. *GoFundMe wanted a thorough description of who I was, where I’m from and how I know Youssef, since he is from Syria.
**Deep gratitude to Jillian and Travis at Minus Red for donating their time and equipment to create the BEAUTIFUL video for Youssef and his family.
Youssef has been creating baklava since he was 16, apprenticing under one of the most famous “sweet shops” in his city. By 24 years old he owned his first bakery with his brother and father.
Then war came to his country.
His home, bakery and sweet shops are now piles of rubble.
He escaped with his life, his family, his craft and determination.
Youssef Akhtarini, his wife and 5 children fled from their home in Aleppo, Syria to safety in Turkey. To reach the border, they rode in the back of a small pick up truck, traversing death and destruction, while military planes flew overhead and shelling could be heard all around them. A trip that would have taken 30 minutes before the war, took over 10 hours. After arriving, they registered as refugees, and were accepted to resettle in the United States — In Providence, Rhode Island; a process that took 2 years; and saw the birth of their youngest daughter, born in Turkey.
Youssef’s dream is to open another bakery in his new home. Like all of those who love to cook, one of his greatest joys is to create food that people love. Youssef’s baklava bakery, serving a wide variety of baklava and authentic Syrian treats will be opening this fall, and he needs your help. Your donation will be used to establish his bakery, from installing a professional kitchen and an inviting space for customers; to point-of-sale software, baklava boxes, signage, website design and initial operating expenses. Youssef needs your support to help him through the bumpy stages of starting a new business.
This is a beautiful opportunity to spread love and kindness as a community of people welcoming and helping a family to begin again.
Please DONATE ... help Youssef start over and support his family of 8, doing what he loves.
Please, SHARE LOVE — and forward this page to your friends and family!
And come to Ives Street in Providence this fall for the best baklava you’ve ever eaten!
Help Youssef BEGIN AGAIN.
*About the author and creator of this GoFundMe page:
My name is Sandy Martin. I am a U.S. Citizen, born and raised in the U.S.A. I met Youssef and his family while volunteering at the refugee resettlement agency in Providence, RI, Dorcas International Instititue of RI (where I continue to volunteer). My husband and I, along with YOU, are helping Youssef to realize his dream of opening a bakery in his new hometown of Providence, Rhode Island so he can support his family doing what he loves. Funds raised for this campaign will be deposited directly into the Aleppo Sweets business account for Youssef’s future bakery on Ives Street in Providence, Rhode Island opening, God willing, Fall 2018. *GoFundMe wanted a thorough description of who I was, where I’m from and how I know Youssef, since he is from Syria.
**Deep gratitude to Jillian and Travis at Minus Red for donating their time and equipment to create the BEAUTIFUL video for Youssef and his family.
Organizer
Sandra Kaye Martin
Organizer
Providence, RI