Believe in Yourself Project Helps Underprivileged Girls

Founder Sam Sisakhti at a Believe in Yourself Project meet-up.

With prom, end of school dances and graduation season upon us, we’re reminded of how powerful putting on a pretty new dress can be for a young girl’s self-esteem. Alas, many girls from low-income backgrounds find their families can’t afford new dresses for formal events, leaving them self-conscious, bullied or even too ashamed to attend.

That’s why Sam Sisakhti, a Boston-based entrepreneur and founder of UsTrendy.com, a retail platform for up-and-coming designers, launched the Believe in Yourself Project. The non-profit organization gives girls in need the ability to feel beautiful in a fabulous new frock. Founded in January 2017, the charity collects dress donations from designers and retailers with the tags still attached. “Ultimately, the Believe in Yourself Project seeks to make people feel comfortable in their own skin and not let physical or financial insecurities and limitations affect their confidence,” Sisakhti says.

For 2019, Sisakhti expects to get at least 10,000 dresses donated to low-income areas. But the Believe in Yourself Project doesn’t stop at product. The organization leverages its impact with a national mentorship program, including weekly meetings in various cities as well as interactive digital seminars with inspirational female leaders. What’s more, the Believe in Yourself Project vows to remain in touch with each dress recipient, supporting her as she works toward personal and professional goals.

For more information on how to get involved with the organization, please visit BelieveinYourself.org.