Yasmina Malouf, an early-career legal professional, recently launched a grassroots fundraiser for UNICEF Lebanon with her friends, raising over $8,000 to support families in need.

Driven by a deep sense of responsibility to her country, Yasmina recognized that many people around her wanted to help—they just didn’t know how. By making giving simple and accessible, she was able to mobilize her network and turn intention into action.

Her story is a powerful reminder that meaningful impact doesn’t require scale, just clarity, accessibility, and the willingness to take the first step. LebNet is proud to feature Yasmina as an example of how small actions can create real impact.

What motivated you to start this fundraiser, and how did you get your friends involved? Being Lebanese is one of the greatest honors of my life, and it has never felt like an option to stand by while my country and people are suffering. We are living in a time where social media makes it possible to raise awareness far beyond our own communities. I realized many of my non-Lebanese friends wanted to help—they just did not know how. I made donating as simple as possible by using platforms like Venmo, so people could contribute quickly and easily. When you remove barriers, people show up, especially when they feel even a small action can make a difference.

For others early in their careers who may feel they cannot do much, what would you say to encourage them to take action? It is easy to feel helpless watching what is happening in Lebanon, especially early in your career when you may not feel established or influential. But making an impact does not require a big platform or significant resources. People are more willing to help than you might expect, and small contributions truly add up. You do not have to solve the entire crisis, just doing your part to support humanitarian aid is meaningful. Action, even on a small scale, is always better than inaction.

What did this experience mean to you personally, and what impact do you hope it will have? These initiatives are deeply personal to me. I love my people and I love Lebanon, and fundraising has always been how I channel that into something tangible. The first time I fundraised, I was five years old, passing out flyers and collecting donations on Burlingame Avenue. Since then, I have continued to show up in moments of crisis.

After the Beirut blast, I worked alongside other young Lebanese Americans to support relief efforts. At that time, I supported the Beirut Project, bringing together Lebanese young adults across the country to fundraise and deliver immediate aid on the ground. I also created a simple, shareable graphic for my sorority sisters, helping raise funds in an accessible way.

In 2024, I organized donations again following the bombardment in the south. Each time, I am reminded that people will surprise you with their generosity, especially when it is easy to contribute. What I hope this shows is that fundraising can be done by anyone, at any level. For me, whenever I am hurting for Lebanon, it is the most immediate and meaningful way I know how to help.

Like Yasmina, stand with Lebanon.  Every dollar matters. Every share multiplies the impact.  

Lebanon is facing a devastating crisis, with over one million people displaced and urgent humanitarian needs growing by the day.
Follow Yasmina’s lead, take action.

Your impact is multiplied
Thanks to pledged matches from LebNet leaders and partners, every dollar you give can be tripled, turning your support into immediate, amplified relief on the ground.  Help us unlock the full match by spreading this campaign across your networks

Donate now:
• Beit El Baraka: https://benevity.go.link/3vcYM
• Lebanese Red Cross: https://benevity.go.link/cTkhw
• UNICEF Lebanon: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-aids-children-lebanon-conflict-intensifies?form=FUNPVAQXYTN
• World Central Kitchen: https://benevity.go.link/8MKyc