When Layla finally came of age to join the WhatsApp group, “a true coming-of-age moment for children of the diaspora,” she found herself feeling more at home, her family always with her, right there in her pocket.

It became a part of her daily routine: wash the dishes, fold the laundry, send a sticker to the chat to communicate she was with them, she was there, she was home.

As Layla VO’s her story in her own words, we’ll bring it to life through vivid imagery and intimate moments that connect her back to her family, creating the feeling that’s she’s home, no matter where she is. With each shared detail/pic/joke/voice memo/text, we’ll track the evolution of her relationship to her family and how their daily communications have given her a new sense of home and an unending source of inspiration for her storytelling.  

Read Layla’s New York Times Essay - My Plea For A Sixth Love Language

Layla’s story was the beginning of a bigger platform we developed for WhatsApp called True Stories on WhatsApp.

There’s nothing more impactful than an inspiring true story about real people. As humans, we connect with them differently, more deeply. We see ourselves in them. We learn from them. We are inspired by them. We are them. 

In a world that’s ever more crowded with flash, we’re even hungrier for authenticity. We crave powerful stories and characters that reflect our lives. Particularly those of us who are part of the global diaspora. Not only because they make us feel seen. But because they show us what’s possible.