Hello. My name is Natallia Sayed, and I am writing to you out of desperation. But let me start from the beginning.
In 2020, I worked as an election observer in Babruisk and was detained at a polling station. In 2021, I left Belarus with my two small children, fearing persecution. Even after moving, I actively ran my personal TikTok “RadistkaKat,” and last year, because of this, I was added to the list of extremist materials, so the road home is now closed to me.
We now live in Valencia. I have not been able to earn a proper income here, and I couldn’t find a job. So I opened a music studio to give vocal lessons, but it didn’t bring in enough money. We had little cash, and finding housing was difficult. To make matters worse, after arriving in Valencia I applied for asylum. But Spain still has not issued us local documents, and my children’s passports have already expired. My sons are 7 and 8 years old, and I am raising them alone without any support from their father.
The only person who didn’t refuse to help back then was Frank, a 76-year-old American. He offered us to live in the apartment he had rented with his now late wife about 12 years ago. I had to trust him because there was no other option: I had no friends or relatives, only two small children, and nowhere to live. We are not in a relationship — it’s just that sometimes help comes from the most unexpected sources.
Since Frank is retired and I have little money, we could not always manage the rent. There were times when the electricity was cut off for non-payment, and many other unpleasant things. It was hard even to afford food. The children’s bed was given to us by neighbours. All this has made the landlords unhappy, and now they want to evict us through the court. But if that happens, we will never find anything for the same price (Frank signed the lease 12 years ago, and the price has never changed — now it is much lower than the market rate).
So the only option for us is to pay off this debt and then defend our right in court to stay in the apartment. We are already registered at this address and would like to remain here.
I am in despair and depression from my own helplessness. I am asking for help with this fundraiser so that we don’t end up on the street. In Spain, there is a big problem with “okupas” and squatters. I am not one of them — I am a decent person in a difficult situation.
Fundraising Goal
€4000
Rent debt for 8 months