Hello,

This is the first time I’ve done this, and I’m not very comfortable asking for help and money from people I don’t know... But unfortunately, I’ve got no choice...

My story isn’t a pretty one, and I apologise in advance if it might upset some of you. I grew up in a family that perhaps shouldn’t have had children; I didn’t receive the love, support and kindness that a child should have. I suffered psychological abuse from both my parents, as well as physical abuse from my brother... And if it had stopped there, that would have been fine, but no, life decided otherwise: my father’s ‘best friend’, who looked after us from time to time, decided to defile me and sexually abuse me for three long years... I hit rock bottom, and then one day I decided to file a complaint, but according to the French justice system, without evidence or concrete support, it would lead nowhere... and my family decided not to support me, and to deny the facts to ‘protect’ their friend.

After that, I went through a lot of low points and dark thoughts... until my mother and my brother decided to throw me out onto the street by hitting me one last time.

I was taken in by a friend and her family, who are very close to me and who knew my situation; She helped me get back on my feet and find the will to fight back against life, to have the desire to fight and build my life for myself, and to turn all that anger inside me into strength.

She succeeded; I am determined. I’ve adopted a dog who helps me enormously to manage my emotions and who gives me a family once again—my family.

But my time on the streets left me with a few small debts, and I’m working incredibly hard (in the catering industry) to wipe the slate clean and move forward from here.

I’ve just found myself a flat, but the first few months’ rent are hard for me to manage, as I’m still paying for the difficult times in my life... 

I don’t need much to finally be free and think only of my future, and to ensure it’s a healthy one—to one day hopefully be able to celebrate my first Christmas, or to have a family of my own and experience everything I’ve never known...

My debts amount to 8,000 euros (I took out loans without thinking to survive when my family threw me out onto the street...) and I am grateful to anyone who is willing to help me, however small the help may be...