Hello, my name is Maria and I’m a student at the University of Seville. Although I find it very difficult to ask for help from people who may not even know me, I’ve realised that I really have nothing to lose. 

My family is from Romania; they live in very small villages where things like running water and mains drainage don’t exist. Everyone looks after their own water supply or builds a toilet and drainage system if they can afford it.

My aunt was lucky back then and, together with my uncle, they were able to build a large, beautiful house, complete with the amenities we take for granted. Several years ago, my uncle passed away and she has been responsible for maintaining the house, although it has been difficult because she earns a modest salary of around €400 a month and prices in Romania are currently similar to those in Spain. But she has always had a special affection for her home; she is a very thoughtful and hard-working woman, always creating new decorations with everyday objects, and without needing much money, she has always kept her house spotless and beautiful.

Last Wednesday, my aunt’s house caught fire, leaving half of it in ruins. A couple of days ago, a fire believed to have been caused by an electrical fault engulfed half of her house. Unfortunately, she didn’t have insurance, as she could barely manage to support herself and the house on her salary. The fire brigade spent hours putting out the fire, using up to 30 tonnes of water. We are lucky that she is safe and no one was injured. However, she is devastated; she has lost a large part of her home and her belongings, and what remains is currently uninhabitable. The fire spread rapidly across the wooden roof structure, so her house is currently roofless and they are trying to cover it with plastic until it can be rebuilt. We need to replace the electrical wiring (so we can have electricity and draw water from the well), replace doors and windows that have melted and burst due to the fire, and repair the heating system as pipes have burst… She doesn’t even have pots or kitchenware to feed the people who come to help.

That is why we are all trying to help her as best we can so that she can get through this terrible situation and return to her normal life.

You can donate directly to her account

Florea Claudia:

IBAN: RO05CRCOX380115000409018

Or donate via this appeal in my name and I will ensure that everything reaches her safely.