a Pakistani Christian Girl

I'm Aasma from Pakistan. I'm an international student at Salem State University. I came here in the USA on 13th Aug 2015 evening and I stayed with a Muslim family. That Muslim family has business relations with our family. They committed that they will help me with my accommodation and tuition fee. They will take care of me but when I came here they changed their minds. After one night stay (14th Aug 2015), they said it's time to leave our house right now. When I said I have nowhere to go, I have no friends or relatives in the United States, I am all alone here, they said to go anywhere; a church or shelter house. They are not going to give me any help. The mother and daughter of the family shouted at me and told me to go back to my country. They did this with me because of my religion Christianity. They did not want a Christian girl at their house. Then, I went to different churches and shelter houses but they were closed because it was evening time. Also, I couldn't contact Salem State University because it was a weekend. Then, I went to the police for guidance. The Police said that shelter houses are not a safe place for a girl like you. They said, you are a very young girl just go back to that Muslim family and stayed there and after weekend go to your university. Then, my parents requested to that Muslim family that please give two more days stay to my daughter. I wept a lot that day and I was in great stress. They kept me in a small room for those two days and I was not welcome to walk through their house.

On 17th Aug 2015, I went to my university and told them my whole story. They understood my situation and immediately gave me a room on campus. Because campus housing is only for undergrad students, I was only able to live on campus for one week during orientation. Then the Center for International Education contacted Highrock Church and the Pastor has allowed me to stay in his house. God has placed Highrock Church in my life at this time to provide me with that place to stay, books and clothes for the winter. Now I need financial help to continue my studies. The tuition fee is my biggest problem. Salem State university does not have financial aid for international students also no assistantship is available right now. Please pray for me and help me. I'm facing the hardest time of my life, but I have hope in the God. I know that He will provide for me.

I am here for Social Work studies. I am hoping to further my knowledge and education so I can go back to Pakistan and work with an international organization like United Nations, USAID or Red Cross and start my projects in Pakistan for women and children. Pakistan is not a safe place for women and I want to fight for women's rights. Child labor is huge in Pakistan. I want to start a school for working children, so they can work in the morning and be educated in the evening. Pakistan does not offer any evening schools in my city. If you are passionate about women, children, and education please help me by donating what you can so I can further my education and make these dreams possible for myself, these women and these children.

Thank you for your time.