HOPE Stories: “By Giving, You Can Change a Life”
A full-circle story of community and care.
Nyla and her son
On a dreary, rainy day in December, Nyla Roy pulled into a parking spot in Northeast Washington, D.C. She rolled down her window and called out to a volunteer, laughing, “I think I’m going to need some help!”
Her car was packed — every inch filled with beautifully wrapped gifts topped with bows. Only one seat remained uncovered: the one occupied by her young son, Tyshawn.
Nyla and Tyshawn had made time during the busy holiday season to join Healthy Babies Project at its 11th Annual Adopt-A-Family celebration, an annual effort that connects families in need with sponsors who provide gifts and winter necessities.
For Nyla, this moment was deeply personal.
Once a Teen Parent, Now a Supporter
Years earlier, Nyla had been on the receiving end of that same generosity. At just 16 years old, she discovered she was pregnant. A counselor at H.D. Woodson Senior High School connected her to Healthy Babies Project’s Teen Parent Empowerment Program (TPEP).
Through TPEP, Nyla learned how to prepare for parenting, care for her baby, and build a plan for her future. When the holiday season arrived that year, she didn’t have the resources to buy gifts — but a generous sponsor stepped in so she and her newborn son could celebrate.
Staying Connected — and Giving Back
Nyla never lost touch with HBP. Instead, she leaned in — giving back to young parents who were once where she had been.
Over the years, Nyla has served the community in multiple roles:
As a doula, providing emotional and physical support to birthing mothers
As a peer facilitator, educating teen girls on reproductive health, pregnancy prevention, and self-respect
As a Family Support Worker, offering social-services guidance to parenting mothers
Today, Nyla works full-time and is a student at Howard University, studying clinical laboratory sciences — all while raising her son.
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." - Marian Wright Edelman
“Pay It Forward”
What advice does Nyla offer young mothers facing similar challenges?
“Keep going and don’t stop,” she says. “As cliché as it sounds, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t forget where you came from. There will always be a girl like you, with your same story — so pay it forward.”
Nyla lives by those words.
Thanks to generous sponsors, HBP’s Adopt-A-Family program served more than 50 families this past December — families who otherwise might not have had the means to celebrate with gifts or a warm meal.
This year, Nyla was one of those sponsors.
“I wanted to give back from what I got in the past,” she says, gesturing toward the gifts she purchased and wrapped for another young family. Even while juggling motherhood, school, and work, Nyla remains grateful for the support she has received along the way.
“I’ve been on both sides — as a recipient and as a sponsor,” she reflects. “By giving, you really can change a life.”
A Note to Our Community
“Stories like Nyla’s remind us that support creates ripples that last for generations. If you or a teen you know is pregnant and needs guidance, Healthy Babies Project is here to help.”