Greetings, Belarusians and Belarusians!
My name is Alana Gebremariam. For more than 5 years I have been engaged in public activities. I have been a volunteer, headed an NPO, worked in defense of students' rights, youth policy and the topic of higher education.
In 2019, together with my colleagues and friends, I created a “youth bloc” initiative and ran for the House of Representatives. We organized the most colorful campaign to participate in the parliamentary elections and drew attention to the issues that young people care about.
In 2020, I, like many other concerned people, could not turn a blind eye to human rights violations, violence, bullying, killings and stealing our votes in the elections.
At that time, I was a member of the main body of the Coordinating Council and was Svetlana Tikhanovska's representative for youth and student affairs. I provided legal assistance, worked on evacuation/relocation, sought educational opportunities for Belarusian students and female students, and developed reforms to the higher education system.
On Black Thursday, November 12, 2020, I and 10 other people were detained in the “students' case.” Then another female student was detained. On that day, the authorities stole the future from talented and honest young people and exemplarily imprisoned us for two and a half years.
After my release, I was immediately banned from leaving Belarus and refused to be reinstated in my specialty as a dentist. All this time I was followed, and after six months I was harassed again by the law enforcement agencies.
With the help of BYSOL I was able to leave Belarus and now I am safe.
Despite the bullying, psychological abuse and disappointment in people that I experienced in prison, I have not stopped being human and believing in our strength and solidarity. I want to continue helping people and building our free Belarus.
But now I need your support to restore my condition, to get back on my feet and to get involved in all the processes anew.
At the trial my last word was “really great are those whose hearts beat for everyone. I am proud to be a Belarusian!”
Thank you all, great people!
Collection amount:
€3000 To improve my health, to settle in a new country.