Libyaabroad would like to thank you for sticking by us in these tough times and formally introduce you to our newsletter on all things travel, mental health, and communication in Washington, around America, and abroad.

Recently, our staff created a blueprint reflecting the recent structural changes our organization has gone through and found that any cultural advocacy abroad can be reflected on the homefront. What happens in our communities around the world affects each and every one of us individually whether we realize it or not. Our job isn’t so much as to track these changes, but to notice the many ways they affect our sense of belonging, which in itself greatly affects our mental health and sense of happiness.

Since our international media communication became official in Dubai in 2011, our work in Tunisia that same year put us on the map in a big way. What we wrote and discussed with our associates became a part of policy that you now read about in the news and watch on TV. The name Libyaabroad was suggested at a hookah bar at Pottery Cafe in 2015 by a casual insider, who was giving his two cents on moving to America.

As you can imagine, in a conservative society, there were many people intent on derailing us, and even praying for our downfall. They couldn’t understand why a divorced, free, non-hijabi, green-eyed woman could speak Libyan and talk about Sebha, Islam, politics, and food.

We even had close friends and family, so concerned about our mental health, say they didn’t see the point of our organization, given all the backlash they faced, after our trip to Oman and Lebanon in 2019 and 2020. We continued forward anyway, and undoubtedly angered trusted relatives along the way.

Our intention is not to appear insensitive, callous, or rude towards those that don’t share our vision–but we will not let them define our brain, our heart and soul, or our individual thoughts. Our opponents cannot stop us from sharing our truth and expressing our God-given and constitutionally protected rights.

After our mental health diagnosis in Dubai in 2014, loved ones and suspicious bystanders have every right to be concerned and cautious about work that appears strenuous or incites conflict. They even ignorantly accuse us online of being something we are not, or promoting an agenda they have no proof we support.

Our goal has never been to alienate our followers, but to remind them that we don’t need to fit into their box. Rumors will never be truths to those with confidence and they do not derail us from being supported and creating our dream. The information we have access to isn’t always for public consumption. In the instances that sensitive information is made public, or we are attacked, our friends are aware and trained to respond and support us accordingly.

Recently, Libyaabroad received financial support by angel investors, who support its mission to grow on social media, and take domestic and international trips that spread awareness about creative outlets and global opportunities. Our staff is diverse. They writes articles, produce video, analyze data, disseminate news, attend and review social networking events, and update insiders using word-of-mouth techniques. With this funding, we’ve been able to keep the ship afloat and rent a studio, near Washington DC, with the main goal of supporting mental health advocacy. We have effectively moved our base, garnered invaluable support, and grown our platform in 6 short years of living in the DC area.

Our Day 1’s may sometimes disagree with our sporadic and even chaotic working style, because it is rooted in theatrical approaches that inspire writing and ideas, but they see The Big Picture, and are always hopeful that good news is around the corner.

Our crew isn’t for the weak or faint of heart. As is written in the blessed book, “With every hardship, there is ease,” and we embody our name and overcome challenges, no matter where we are, every day.