Hello!

I am a young woman living in a large Italian city.

I am coming out of a cohabitation of many years and, these days, I am moving into a studio apartment where I will live alone. Due to exorbitant rents, I have found an empty mini house, completely to be furnished, with a slightly lower than average rent, the only one I can actually afford with my salary, if we think about having to add utilities, taxes, various expenses and having to do everything with a 1200€ salary.

The initial expenses of the move, between security deposit, agency fees, kitchen and furniture purchase, are putting a strain on me.

I am therefore here to ask, from those who are in a better, more prosperous, more fortunate period, and would like to lend me a hand, a contribution that does not weigh on their finances at all, but which may mean a lot to me at the moment. Unity is strength and maybe, adding up what is the cost of a coffee, I can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to you.

In addition to this, I am doing a PhD in mathematics didactics, because I really believe in the need to improve the situation of learning/teaching mathematics at a global level. The PhD, in Italy, is really paid a pittance and does not allow you to do other well-paid jobs at the same time. This year I was presented with the opportunity, at the same time as the PhD, to attend the teaching qualification courses at a reduced price to what I would pay if I decided to attend later: 1800 euros instead of 2400. This is actually the best year to attend, since next year I will have doctoral commitments that will prevent me from attending these courses. Doing the two at the same time will be mentally and physically very tiring, but it doesn't scare me. What is the real obstacle, however, is the price, which at this time is really impossible for me to bear, because of what I said before.

What I am asking you for is a mini-help to build, in one way or another, my future! I don't know whether you would like to help me more for the house or for this qualification course. If you help me with the amount of a coffee at the café, I will be happy. I was thinking that it would be nice, if someone decides to help me with a larger offer, to include it within the acknowledgements of my doctoral thesis, which will be in two/three years. I would like to include your names in the acknowledgements because, indeed, you will have decided to put your trust in my life projects and, consequently, in me. And it is always nice to know that someone believes in us.

I thank you and salute you.

May you always find a favourable wind in your time of need.

Sara