Hi, my name is Maja, and I come from Slovenia, from the capital city Ljubljana. 

At the age of 22, I was unfortunately diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and I am an artist - a Painter. (I am self-taught painter) 

After so many years of hard struggles, and poverty I decided from two justified reasons, to start a recurring fundraiser for myself and my best friend, my cat Felix. First reason is being Schizophrenic and second is being an artist - Painter. At a very young age, where everything just starts to happen for us, young adulthood, I got sick from Schizophrenia. It is one of the most difficult mental diseases. For us mental patients, not just in my country Slovenia, but it's quite common all around the globe - things are not arranged and we are not taken care of by the system of government. (Elsewhere, for example India or Sudan, it's even worse - mental patients get exploited and killed) For the first 5 years, from 2008 when I was diagnosed and hospitalized until 2014, I was tirelessly trying with jobs, employment. I was not receiving social welfare at all; first time I applied for welfare was in 2014. So, long (5 years) I was struggling on my own. No one can say I didn't try to work, fight, and trying despite known diagnosis. No one tells you that Schizophrenia is very difficult and serious, not even the health system. And of course, no one expects that being diagnosed with schizophrenia will turn your life for the worst. And the life you tried before will not be the same. After years of struggles with jobs, I realized, this disease is here to stick with me. With great help of psychiatrists, I rested my case, I had to understand it's not me, it's simply that I am sick and lower my expectations, adjust my life to my condition. It's not me being lazy, or incapable of employment. It's simply the consequences and price that schizophrenia brings with it. It's not just being lazy, but this is a serious neurological condition - and makes a patient disabled in many areas, because of damaged cognitive function, irregular sleep patterns, chronic anxiety, also some phobias and mainly lower functioning. You are not capable of organized work; a normal person works normally from 9-5PM. It doesn't mean that I am crazy, or that I have split personality (this itself is a completely separate diagnosis), or that I am stupid. In my country (Slovenia) there is no possible way for me to get disability retirement, because the rules are extremely strict (you really must be "half dead" so that the committee for disabilities and retirement mercy you and give you status). Because I am not completely damaged by schizophrenia and I am also not healthy and capable of work, I am stuck somewhere in the middle and like so many other schizophrenics, I am being redirected on social welfare. It's not just me, all of Schizophrenics I know who got sick young are like that. It doesn't mean we are not sick; we are. Very much. Which is horrible, I was living now for 10 years on approx. 400eur/per month. (from 2014 to 2020 only on 234,oo euro or 300,oo euro) It's the amount a person cannot survive on. But, maybe in all of that there is a blessing, and I started painting ever since I was diagnosed (2008) so until this day I was pursuing art, painting and creating with all my heart. Sometimes I sell some paintings. The problem is if you are on social welfare, there is no amount of money you can receive on your transaction account - if you do, the welfare is taken away from you. Because it is understood that if you have funds to survive by yourself, then you don't need social welfare. So here is this, vicious complicated cycle I am twisting around and its exhausting, so much stress every month just to survive. Just to keep creating and just to find resourceful ways to survive. If I sell a painting for example 400 euro or 500 euro, my benefit is lower significantly for 6 months (receiving just 100eur per month) or sometimes they completely cancel it. Just because of one amount of painting sold. (I would absolutely understand if painting I sell would be for higher amounts, example few thousand euros, but it is not. And I don't sell my works constantly, so my money doesn't flow regularly form Art at all.) With this amount I cannot get through for half a year, in no way possible. I pay taxes, and I declare every purchase from my Art - but like I say, it's a vicious cycle. 

What will I use my money for? 

First, the basics: Food (groceries), bill for mobile phone and costs in my apartment (water, gas, electricity...) and Felix's food (kibbles, wet food, cat litter) and cigarettes. That's just the basics. 

But life happens, and it's impossible to predict things. Sometimes some things in my apartment break down and I need to get them fixed (for example washing machine breaks, or I need new light bulbs, or I must call a plumber...), then there are clothes in changing seasons. Winter, Summer... Every year I need shoes, clothes, sometimes a new winter jacket. As a woman, not to mention cosmetic products, that are necessary (shampoos, shower gels, period pads, toilet paper, ...etc.) Also, for me to keep creating, material for painting. Sometimes I really like to bake, it relaxes me, and I love creating, but nothing extravagant or excessive. (Usually Holidays, Christmas time or Easter) Also my apartment, all these 18 years of my struggles I have never invested anything (the floor is badly damaged for example, walls need to be painted again, because I live in basement I should buy soon new dehumidifier ...etc.) you simply cannot buy things for an apartment or try to fix what's broken, if you don't even have for yourself to eat.   

But this is most important: Over these 18 years, there have been so many of my friends, acquaintances, neighbors... that have helped me financially through my struggles, and I desperately want to pay back to everyone who helped me. Besides help from friends, neighbors, acquaintances, there are also some bills that I desperately need to pay and are waiting to be paid for quite some years now. There are different amounts, but gradually I hope I will manage. If there will be any extra amount of your donations - first thing goes to return my friends and acquaintances the money I owe, when they helped me through my darkest times. And are still extremely empathetic towards me and so understanding. They know my situation, my struggles and never turn their back on me, which I appreciate so much, words cannot explain. I don't have any loans, leases or limits in any bank or pawnshop and I am not in any official bankruptcy. 

I would also like to mention that I have some diagnosis beside Schizophrenia: PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), and a difficult skin disease Hidradenitis Suppurativa and sadly I have been wetting my bed ever since I was a child. (nocturnal incontinence - I am still in process with doctors to find the cause and cure). These diagnoses also bring costs, since our health insurance does not cover anything of that. For my skin disease I need antibacterial creams, to prevent infections, and larger bandages when flairs burst out. (You can Google it of course, but do not have a meal while googling, it is extremely disgusting and unaesthetic to see.) What considers PCOS, the most difficult side effect is hirsutism - which means i am very hairy, and I do not have money to go waxing in cosmetic saloons. But that's not all. PCOS brings obesity, boldness over head over time (hairs get very thinning) skin acne, insulin intolerance, and absence of periods very frequently. (PCOS is a whole spectrum for itself, so it takes quite a lot from a person) My skin disease HS its complicating things with waxing because my skin is extra sensitive, so I can use just one form of waxing. Wetting a bed from childhood is not "cheap". I am washing sheets and comforters every weekend, which means more laundry detergent needed than normally, and of course, textile gets used and worn out, every year I need to buy new. The good thing is that blankets and comforters now are not so expensive what they used to be. So, these diagnoses also bring expenses. (I also need to take food supplements, D-vitamin, B-complex, Chromium and Omega3) It all adds up, financially always a challenge how to maintain buying that and trying to take care of my health. 

My plan is trying to help myself live and survive with donations, because all other resources are impossible or have been drained out in 18 years. And social benefit is so low, it's impossible to survive with it. (I cannot count on the help of my friends forever; they also have reached their limit. It's only human.) As a mental patient like I said I cannot get disability retirement, also because (beside committee for disability retirement being extremely strict) in my country you need appropriate "working ages" to be able to get disability retirement, because it depends on how many years you were employed and working. Us, schizophrenics usually get sick and diagnosed at a young age, so I was not employed that time. It's very typical for all of us with mental diseases. I personally know people who had to go to the European Court of Justice to get a disability pension because our government simply did not recognize it. It does not mean that you are not sick and disabled if you do not have a disability pension. The problem is that we are getting sick young. That is the root of the problem. Young, in fact too young to retire. Many, many people are victims of an imperfect and ineffective system and are struggling day in and day out, and are not healthy, they are seriously ill. You also must know, as a single, without children or family on my own, my options for humanitarian organizations and help are always declined. On the Red Cross I am entitled to 5 items every month (2kg of flour, 1kg pasta, oil, can of tomato and beans) and that's all. (It's how it is in my city, I know for a fact elsewhere is much better. Many people told me during these years. But there is nothing I can do, I belong to my city Ljubljana and cannot get help from organizations in other cities, other districts. It's just a fact. The help is always targeted on children, families, children with needs or rare diagnosis, single mothers and every now or then blind and disabled. I think I am quite correct when I say, you will never see a charity event for mental patients, or a charity concerts, projects... and never for schizophrenics, even though there is 1% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia in the world. The number is not small at all. So, my goal is to try to help myself with donations here, not goal but - hope. Yes, it's not easy, but I must keep fighting and trying to help myself, no one will do it for me. I have been financially undernourished for 18 years, and I am truly tired, all I am trying is just to survive and help myself - no one knows how it is living on 234,oo euro of social welfare, or now last years (the inflation regulation) on only 400,oo euro Only those who are like me or in similar situations can empathies. And I wish it would be my fault, they say it all depends on us in life - but it's not. I didn't choose to get schizophrenia, and even though I have it, I am being resourceful as much as I can and keeping my hopes up. Overall, even if I am not raising enough money to help myself from donations, any euro, any kind of money absolutely will help. To help me get through a month. 

The truth is, even if my schizophrenia would get better to the point I would no longer need medications, or after so many years of treatment I somehow would be cured, I started suffering in High School and I haven't finished it. I only have basic education (elementary school), and approx. 20 years of unemployment. I truly am devoted to Art, and I will continue regarding any changes that might come. It's who I am, it's what I do. It's necessary to understand I haven't been working for almost 20 years, (because of schizophrenia) and have no education. I started my Art in 2009, when 22 years old and I am going to continue it. 

All these 18 years since I have been diagnosed were truly a hell and immense struggles. Before, this platform wasn't so widespread or known, but I made it to here. In these years, there has also been a period of years that I was begging for coins/change on the street just to survive in my city. Every day, no matter rain, snow, summer heat... Thats was my only option. I heard and witnessed so many people's stories, so many situations, it was brutal - but somehow, I survived. I have never been in any criminal activities at all, any prostitution, frauds, scams, I don't have a criminal record...and I also do not drink alcohol, I don't take any kind of drugs (not even smoking marihuana) - my soft spot are cigarettes and coffee. I really love Coffee. I want you to know that, so you have a chance to step back from donating to me if you hate smokers or if you are someone whose rule is - if you don't have money, you cannot be buying cigarettes. It's quite a common belief, but unfortunately, 85% of schizophrenics smoke, because it's not just addiction of a habit - it helps us with medications we're taking, antipsychotics - it helps with strong side effects they bring. Tobacco counteracts the severe side effects of cigarettes, but of course, over the years, tobacco itself becomes addictive. (Ah, us smokers.) I am very grateful, given the fact that 60% to 70% of schizophrenics, because of the nature of the disease itself, excessively drink alcohol and take amphetamines, or other drugs. It's not because they are bad people, it's because of the immense burden schizophrenia brings. (Being constantly nervous, chronic anxiety is almost a must, many antipsychotics cause even bigger desire for alcohol, drugs. For example, in some period when I had relapses, and my dosage of antipsychotics was very high - I was smoking really a lot. And at that time, I was capable of drinking 2 liters of coffee per day.) 

In 2017, there was a little happiness, who came in front of my door. And it was my cat, Felix. (He is male Tuxedo cat). He was a 4-month-old kitten. Even given the fact that I was completely without money, it was just fate, and I decided to keep him. I still consider that one of most unrationed and dangerous decisions, but also one of the best ones in my life. (I didn't even had money for myself, not mentioning a pet) He is my best friend, and I am a very responsible owner. Felix is taken care of completely; he has veterinarian checkups regularly and is fully vaccinated. (regularly de-wormed and flea treatments, but he has none of that) He doesn't eat the best food (for example the most expensive organic premium cat food...etc. I do not exaggerate, although I love him unconditionally), but he also is not receiving the cheapest and the lowest quality. His food is quality one, mixing wet and dry kibbles - and since he is mostly indoor cat, I watch to maintain his weight, so he doesn't fall into obesity. I am a big animal lover, and advocate of saying if you don't have an intention of taking care of a dog or a cat like your family - don't get them at all! I always make sure he has everything, and as a "crazy cat mom" - we always celebrate his birthday in September, hehe. So, therefore, your donations are not just for me, there are also for Felix, to buy him food, cat litter, and since life is what life is - if something happens and I need him to get him to a vet, if something is wrong, the bills from vet can be quite expensive. But that doesn't stop me at all, (thinking about money) - Felix is my priority. Allways. I wish you would know what a good boy he is. He is truly my treasure; he is the best cat and the best friend you could imagine. 

Maybe you are wondering about my family. 

I have no support, because I am deeply misunderstood. Mental illnesses are many time the reason - families, marriages, friendships, fall apart. It's just how it is, its reality. All my sisters are more respected and loved with my parents, but I am not. But I have a strong bond with my grandma, I am deeply attached to her, and my Felix of course. She helps me as much as she can, but I really try to not put pressure on her, she is very old, and her retirement amount is very low. My father, mother... they really don't care if I live or die. I am not the only one with situation like that. Its unfortunately very usual with mental patients - not understood and facing a lot of judgment. Families also sometimes reach the point, where they have no more power or energy, many times being exhausted (especially moms) and they put their sick sons or daughters, or family members into housing communities. That doesn't mean they don't love them, but mental patients many times can be overwhelming even for mothers/parents. It's important to know, if someone breaks a leg, or suffers a stroke, or has cancer - people give insane empathy and understanding, and are always ready to help. But schizophrenia is extremely complicated, and for example, I have problems with circadian sleep rhythm, my biorhythm is switching. Many times, up all night, and sleeping during the day. For me, I put crazy a lot of effort to sustain and not taking sleeping pills and similar pills -because they are extremely dangerous, so I adapt. But how other see it, is simply: "just go to bed earlier or wake up before noon!" And there you have it, sleeping through the day: "she is just so lazy, unresponsible, just lazy, she doesn't deserve anything in this life." I gave you an example just for one of the symptoms - sleeping patterns. There is sooo much more about schizophrenia, but people do not understand. (Don't get me even started about relapses.) Some feel that you are making them dumb and trying to convince them something that is a lie - and usually they react very sharp, aggressively. (Perfect example is my father) So I strive alone, with great help and empathy from my friends. I truly believe I would not be still on this planet earth without great support of friends, neighbors and some acquaintances. I probably really have an amazing guardian angel.  

If not supporting me as a struggling mental - Patient, 

Support me as an artist - Painter.  

I am sincerely deeply grateful for any donation you give me. 

Not even 1,oo euro isn't little to me. I appreciate every cent, every euro, there is no rule. To me, someone who helps with little, is not appreciated less, at all. Over so many years of struggles and begging on the streets, it's important to know we should be grateful in life for all small things. And what considers the platform itself 4Fund, I was communicating with them a month before I launched this fundraiser of mine. To check and get all the answers to my questions. For all the things and facts, I am writing about I have all the proof, and the platform keeps my documents. Since money, or especially raising money is a very delicate and sensitive subject, I can assure you - your donations will not be spent on a new car (I don't even have a driver's license) or holidays to Maldives/Bahamas/Hawaii, or drugs/alcohol, new iPhone...etc. The money I am raising is exactly for the things I mentioned. To help me survive and live. I have also done complete research and gathered information regarding possible donations and matching with social welfare and I have it sorted out - with certain restrictions it will not pose any major problems, considering the laws of my country, the Republic of Slovenia. I consider myself an honest person. Most of the time, all the time, I am home alone with Felix - so no other fancy or luxurious needs/things are necessary. From time to time, I am also planning to put for auction my paintings, works I will do in the future. So, I can really give something in return and try to help myself as much as I can. (Keep updated with me, to catch the auction when it will be available. Maybe the painting will call you, and move you, and maybe you would like to buy it) 

Before you fall for lies and false claims of haters about me and my situation: 

I have many enemies on the Internet (so-called "trolls") who successfully spread lies and accusations about me. This is because all these years of exposing myself on the Internet and Facebook, and this is the price. I have explained most of the false accusations in detail on my page. You are welcome to read this, but before you believe all these painful lies and gossip, you can always ask me directly and I will be grateful to you to answer all your questions and doubts. Please note that the 4Fund platform requires monthly proofs (invoices, payments, transactions ...) of how the fundraiser uses the donations and money. In this information and technological age, we live in, it is very difficult to cheat in this way. This is also the reason why I chose this platform - because they are transparent, reliable and respected. 

Explanations regarding haters and false gossip: 

https://www.facebook.com/majaklemencicart/posts/1293172259478823?ref=embed_post 

At one point it has gotten so brutal and unbearable, I have reported to the police and the and the matter is ongoing, including legal (lawsuit). 

Last important detail: 

If there will be any extra donations, I will try my best to help and donate to others in need and struggling. I know that there is many of them who cannot fight and are enabled to help themselves. Not only Schizophrenics, but we also all know there is a wide spectrum of people in distress. It doesn't mean I will donate only to my people in my country (Slovenia), it means, if possible, I might donate to other fundraisings here or worldwide. But of course, it's only normal to know - I am not talking about large amounts of money. (small symbolic sums) Clearly, I have a fundraiser for myself to help me survive. It's who I am, I am generous, and I am very sensitive to other people's struggles - because I know exactly how hard it is. 

Every help makes a difference. I am aware of this. 

You can see my Artwork (Paintings) here: 

https://artopolis.si/@maja_klemencic 

My official page on Facebook where you can Follow me: 

https://www.facebook.com/majaklemencicart?locale=sl_SI 

I am also spreading awareness about Schizophrenia and mental struggles. I had some interviews, talk shows, in the media. You can check contents here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBBFbAGqAmg&t=317s 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8aiG3lKIw 

https://svet24.si/magazin/jana/clanek/vcasih-je-bluzenje-cisto-v-redu-868756 

https://navdihni.me/tag/maja-klemencic/ 

https://spletnicas.com/maja-klemencic-art/ 

Maja Klemenčič