My name is Veronica and I am 18 years old. My parents died whilst travelling to their own parents’ funeral. That journey, though filled with sadness, was an important one; it was meant to be an opportunity to say goodbye to the family and honour their loved ones. Instead, tragedy struck and I lost them both in an instant. In a single day, I lost my parents and the future I had imagined. I found myself alone, responsible for my seven younger brothers and sisters. We were all devastated and distraught, trying to understand how so much could have been snatched away from us so brutally. Since then, life has been extremely difficult. There are days when the pain and the responsibilities are overwhelming and I feel like giving up. There are also days when we don’t have enough to eat and I feel helpless seeing my brothers and sisters suffering from hunger. Despite all this pain, I am holding on for their sake. I love my brothers and sisters deeply, but I cannot bear it all alone. I am appealing to your generosity so that we may overcome this ordeal and rebuild our lives with dignity and hope.