Hi!
20 years ago I picked up a camera and realized I wanted to be a photojournalist. A lot of time has passed since then, and over the years I've learned not only how to capture moments, but also how to convey stories through the lens of a camera. We've experienced different times, from political events to personal dramas, and each one has left an imprint on me and my work.
In 2020, I was seemingly everywhere. Since 2014, I worked as the head of the photo service of the largest Belarusian independent information portal TUT.BY. Therefore, most of the photos from the time of the coronavirus, the 2020 election campaign, and subsequent events that millions of Belarusians (and not only Belarusians) saw in 2019-2021 passed through my hands. And starting on August 8, 2020, I led the photo feed in TUT.BY's daily online and managed its photo service.
On May 18, 2021, the Belarusian authorities attacked the portal, arrested its management and several editors, so it was decided to evacuate the portal's employees from Belarus on an emergency basis. On May 23, I left Belarus and moved to Kiev, where I continued to work as a journalist and media trainer in a number of independent Belarusian media, later recognized as extremist.
With the beginning of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine, I evacuated to Poland, and then, under the program of support for Belarusian journalists, to Germany, where I am with my family to the present day. All this time until July 2024 I worked as a journalist in an independent Belarusan news agency, but due to difficulties with financing of independent Belarusan media I was left without a job. I could not find another place in my specialty — there are very few vacancies. So, by means of part-time work and using reserves, we survived until September, but now there was no money left.
To get out of the situation, I got a job at the washing machine factory, but I will get my first paycheck only in a month. So we have an apartment debt from last month, plus we have insurance and electricity bills to pay. We also need about €300 for groceries. We have paid for internet and travel expenses.
I am not asking for help in the form of a non-refundable aid payment. I will try to pay back all the money I received in contributions to the fund as soon as I can earn. I did not think my family would be in a situation where I would need to ask for help, however, all options have been exhausted at this time.
I realize that there are situations much worse than ours, but in this situation we are at great risk of non-renewal of our apartment contract, lawsuits that will result in additional penalties, and power outages.
Please help my family.
How much is needed?
€2400
€1300 — 2 months rent
€500 — insurance bills
€160 — utility bills for the month
€140 — recalculation of last year's electricity bill
€300 — groceries for a month