Hello! My name is Ali. I’m a Honduran-born American who has had the pleasure of calling Manchester my home for the past 4 years. I recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in Digital Media & Communications, graduating with first class honours and receiving the award for Best Project.

Manchester has truly become my home. I have a network of amazing friends. I work full-time as a childcare worker at a nursery, and I have a lovely apartment in Hulme where I’ve built a life I’m proud of. My dream is to stay here, continue growing my career, and contribute to the community I love so much.

Unfortunately, my current visa is coming to an end. To stay, I need to apply for a Graduate Visa, which costs £880 plus a healthcare surcharge of £2,070. If I can raise even £2,000 by October, I can cover the remaining amount from my own wages.

Asking for help is not easy for me, but with the current political climate in both my birth country and the U.S., the last thing I want is to lose what I’ve worked so hard to build here. On top of that, I have moved every 5 years since I was 15 and for once I would like to plant some roots somewhere and Manchester has given me safety, opportunity, and a sense of belonging that I can’t let go of just yet.

Any contribution — big or small — will bring me one step closer to staying in the city I love and continuing my journey.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting me in any way you can.