Hi!

I’m a young woman living in a big Italian city.

I’ve just moved out of a long-term shared flat and, at the moment, I’m moving into a studio flat where I’ll be living on my own. Due to exorbitant rents, I’ve found a tiny, unfurnished flat, which needs to be fully furnished, with a rent slightly below average—the only one I can actually afford on my salary, when you factor in utilities, taxes, miscellaneous expenses and having to manage everything on a €1,200 monthly wage.

The initial moving costs – including the security deposit, estate agent’s fees, and the cost of buying a kitchen and furniture – are really putting me under pressure.

So I am here to ask anyone who is in a better, more prosperous, luckier period of their life, and who would like to give me a hand, for a contribution that would not weigh on their finances at all, but which might mean a great deal to me right now. There is strength in numbers, and perhaps, by chipping in the cost of a coffee, I can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to you.

Added to this situation is my career; let me explain: I am doing a PhD in mathematics education, because I truly believe in the need to improve the situation of learning and teaching mathematics globally. In Italy, a PhD is paid a pittance and does not allow you to take on other well-paid work at the same time. This year, I’ve been offered the chance to take teacher training courses alongside my PhD at a reduced price compared to what I’d pay if I decided to do them later: €1,800 instead of €2,400. This is actually the best year to do them, as next year I’ll have PhD commitments that will prevent me from attending these courses. Doing both at the same time will be mentally and physically very tiring, but it doesn’t scare me. The real obstacle, however, is the cost, which I simply cannot afford at the moment, for the reasons mentioned earlier.

What I’m asking for is a little help to build my future, one way or another! I don’t know whether you’d prefer to help me with my rent or with this qualification course. If you could help me with the cost of a coffee at a café, I’d be grateful. I was thinking it would be nice, should anyone decide to help me with a larger donation, to include them in the acknowledgements of my PhD thesis, which will be in two or three years’ time. I’d like to include your names in the acknowledgements because, in effect, you will have chosen to place your trust in my life plans and, consequently, in me as a person. And it’s always lovely to know that someone believes in us.

Thank you and best regards.

May you always find a favourable wind when you need it.

Sara