In 2020, Maria* took part in protests and joined a strike. Today the woman is in desperation: as a former political prisoner, it is difficult for her to find a well-paid job, money is not enough, and she has a child whom Maria is raising on her own.
My name is Maria*. I am a former employee of a large factory — in 2020, together with other workers, we took part in protests and went on strike. For the protests, I was detained for one day; for the strike, I was fired.
After my dismissal, I found a new job, but did not stay there long — I was driven by activism and wanted to help factory workers. At the same time, I took side jobs and raised my child on my own.
This went on for several years, until I was detained. After that, I was sentenced to a correctional facility for participating in the protests. I spent some time there.
That was enough for serious health problems to begin, particularly gynecological ones. I was constantly pale and sickly. And as soon as I was released (more than two years ago), everything started to fall apart. I began to faint, my teeth deteriorated, my hair started falling out. I needed urgent medical attention, because I have a daughter. And all of this happened under constant stress due to checks by local police officers (they could come even at night).
Since my release, I still have not been able to find a good job. With a criminal record (especially a political one), many employers would not hire me, and if they did, they paid very little. I worked as a shop assistant and in warehouses. Now I have had to take a job in cleaning. But what I earn barely helps me make ends meet. I need to rent an apartment, buy food for my child, clothes and shoes. I have not bought anything new for myself for more than a year — I wear hand-me-downs from her. There is simply no opportunity to save or create even a small financial cushion; I live month to month. So I have to go into debt.
Sometimes you simply do not know how you will survive with a child, with cats, in a rented apartment — whom to ask for help and where. Panic sets in, and this does no good for the nervous system.
That is why I decided to ask for help. I need to repay a debt, and I also want to buy a new laptop (the old one is on the verge of “death”). New equipment, at the very least, increases my chances of finding paid remote work, which would spare me from surviving on pennies.
My child, our cats, and I are sincerely asking for support. This fundraiser will allow us to cover basic everyday needs without taking on new debts.
*This is an anonymous fundraiser. For security reasons, we have changed the heroine’s name and some details of her story. The image was generated using AI.
Fundraising goal
€2100
€900 — laptop purchase
€600 — clothes, shoes, household expenses
€600 — debt