Fundraising for Immigrant Student's Education

UPDATES:
Hello everyone!

I hope you are all well. I want to start off by apologizing for not writing this message earlier. I have been caught up with school, midterms and work and this sidetracked me from writing a message that could truly convey how thankful I am for all of the support that I received from all of you after my story was shared via the San Francisco Chronicle. I spent 20 years feeling invisible prior to this publication, because I always thought that my story and my struggles were irrelevant to others. I always felt that as a first generation immigrant, they were just a part of my life that I had to live with. I always felt that no matter how bad things got, there was still someone out there that had it worse than my family and I did. While this remains true, it is important to acknowledge that my family and I’s experience shouldn't be any immigrant’s experience, because nobody deserves to live such a limited life that is plagued with constant fear and anxiety.


The day after my story was published in the Chronicle, I received such an overwhelming response and wave of support that I struggled to even comprehend and/or process. As I saw my gofundme account surpass the intended amount that I was struggling to pay towards my education, I truly became speechless. I cannot express how grateful I am to every single one of you, for your kind comments and for your donations to help me fulfill my dreams of advocating for minorities that face similar struggles, but have been forced into the silence that I was encompassed within for almost all of my life. 


I appreciate every amount, small or big, that was contributed to my gofundme, and I wholeheartedly appreciate your support of my goals of obtaining my education and becoming an educated member and leader of society, so strongly. No matter what struggles I will have to overcome in the future, or any barriers to my education, if any, that I face in the future, I know that I can overcome it and thrive, because of each of you. While there were a few contributors to my fund that I know personally, I was so taken aback to see how many individuals that I had never met offered me such overwhelming support. Regardless of what happens, I know that I have all of your support and well wishes with me, and my well wishes will always be with you. I wish that I could meet every single one of you personally and to thank you for all of your help in person, but I know this might be impossible. However, if any of you would be comfortable, I would love to get your emails and express a personal thank you to every single one of you.  


As a side note and update to our situation, my family and I were finally granted asylum and are on our way towards gaining permanent residency within the United States!! Every one of your donations towards my education will still go towards my education, but it will now, more specifically, go towards my higher education. 


Thank you again for your kindness, well wishes, and support in making my dreams come true. I hope life always rewards you with good health, success and all of the happiness that your heart desires.


With love,
Shugufa

 

ORIGINAL STORY POST:
I am reaching out to ask for your assistance in helping my friend, Shugufa, in regards to a financial issue that she has been facing regarding her financial aid. Shugufa and her family are first generation immigrants, and they have had an asylum case in process for 20 years and counting. Since Shugufa and her family do not have an established status within the United States as of yet, she is being denied financial aid. Shugufa is ineligible for financial aid through FAFSA, because she does not have established Asylee status. Additionally, Shugufa is ineligible for aid via the Dream Act because she completed high school in New York, and one of the requirements of the Dream Act is the completion of at least one year of high school in California. This remains to be true even though Shugufa is an in-state resident, since she and her family have been living in California since September 2017.

 

Shugufa is also ineligible for student loans, and she does not qualify for most scholarships due to the citizenship or established status requirement that most of these scholarships demand. Shugufa has been fighting to get financial aid since getting admitted to and starting University of California, Davis in August 2021, and has spoken to various state representatives, as well as to various school officials to no avail.

 

Shugufa was previously notified that she owes full tuition for fall and winter quarter out of pocket by December 15th, and that she would be dropped from her classes if she didn’t make this payment. With the help of one of her professors, Shugufa was able to get a hold placed on her tuition until January, when her immigration hearing is supposed to take place. If her hearing actually takes place (since it has been delayed multiple times before), and she is granted asylum, she will be able to receive aid via FAFSA. However, if the hearing is delayed or Shugufa and her family are denied asylum, Shugufa will have to pay this amount out of pocket.

 

Shugufa and her family have gone through so much, and I decided to organize this gofundme so that I can try to help her out with this matter, so that she has one less thing to worry about. If you are able to contribute any amount, and/or share this gofundme, I would be most grateful.

**Shugufa is completing her pre-med requirements at UC Davis before continuing on to medical school in pursuit of becoming a doctor. Any funds that exceed her target goal will be put towards her medical degree. 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Sincerely,

 

Tess Winfield