Aushra's Study and Future Fund

My name is Aushra, I am an international student from Lithuania living in Brisbane. I am also working long hours in hospitality and sales jobs. Sadly I still don't have enough money to pay for the next semester and the payment date is quickly approaching. I chose to study a Master's of Social Work program because I want to make a positive influence in the world, helping people in need and supporting their rights. In particular, I see a great need for knowledgeable and skilled specialists working with families and children. I seek to do my first placement in Child Protection Services. The funds I need, mean more than just finishing the first year of studies. Becoming a qualified Social Worker means having a future and the possibility to work in a stable job. I have been in Australia for only 1 year. Before that, I lived in Lithuania and saw a lot of poverty and hopelessness there, especially for people like myself who are in their early 30's and are barely managing to pay for rent with full-time and high responsibility jobs. I was a manager in a bakery then and decided to study. I completed my Bachelor in Psychology online with a UK university and decided to go on to Social Work. In Lithuania, depression, addictions, and high suicide rates are frightening and are everywhere. Everyone knows someone affected by one of these problems. The cause of this is not only the bad economy of the country but also because winters are long and cold, there is not much light during the day. It is a hard place to survive not to mention to build a future for a young person. Many are leaving, some find it easy to get documents, others struggle. Completing this degree also means gaining the right to apply for Permanent Residency in Australia. That will allow for full-time work. I do not have close relatives back in Lithuania who can help me. So I am doing all I can to make it work. The program I am studying goes for 4 semesters long and this money is for semester 2. I need to make the next payment by the end of August 2016. I believe that after completing the second term and the placement that this includes, I will have a high chance of getting a stable job in some junior or assistant role and that will help me to make the next payment. I appreciate greatly even small donations.