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Hello lovely people of Berlin and the world,
many of you might know my boyfriend Alex and me (Stefan). We are accommodating two very sweet Nigerian students (Jane and Lawrence) since the end of May 2022. The two prefer better not to be visible in any picture.
We’ve already arranged living with each other in my not perfectly shaped flat (1-bdr-flat, 58 sqm). Cooking, chatting a lot, laughing, exploring the neighbourhood and last but not least helping with bureaucracy stuff in Berlin and getting to know the culture and way of living in Berlin, learning the language as quick as possible, to be continued …
If you are wondering, what’s the story behind the guys … it’s not a common one, but even more worth telling it.
Jane and Lawrence are a couple since many years and left Nigeria in the good hope of university education and better life to Mariupol a little bit more than one year ago. Ukraine was offering a really attractive environment (money and pace wise) for studies of almost all kinds to African countries.
Long story short: The majority of the Nigerian students with an average budget was going there, as it was an unbeatable chance to escape from corruption and an extremely dangerous life. If you followed the news recently, you know what I mean. These days the news are focussing on other things than Africa, but that’s another sad topic :-(
What happened since March 2022 in Ukraine and especially in Mariupol is one of the things where media is putting emphasis on and therefore we all know what horrible and inhuman catastrophe happened, just next door, in Europe.
Leaving Mariupol just with a handful of clothes, passports and a plastic bag, running in fear of their lives in the very first bombing night caused by the Russians … no one of us can ever imagine how it feels. The two came a long and hurtful way, where they experienced unforgettable scenes of people in need and the simple wish to survive.
Finally arrived in Berlin, Jane and Lawrence just want to forget and continue, and yes, just focus why they left Nigeria, initially. To go on with their studies (Jane: Cyber Security, Lawrence: Computer Science) but also to earn some money for affording their own flat and being independent of any support, not from other persons nor from the state. Their money for the university obviously is lost in Mariupol and they have to go on with zero!
Looking back what they went through, returning to Ukraine, in their case, doesn’t make sense at all and is definitely not an option!
But to give them the chance to begin from zero, it’s still necessary to prepare them the initial start. And that’s why I am asking simply for money.
Money they need to e.g. pay their rental deposit for their first room/small flat or, even the higher aim, as a security background money to start at a German university here in Berlin.
(For those who didn’t know: In their case a blocked account (German: Sperrkonto) is needed with a balance 10.500€ of each student! It’s the security for the state, that there is enough money in the background and the state is not forced to support.)
On the other hand I am asking for money that Alex and me need in order of being able to host the two sweeties a little longer. So they are not forced to search new welcoming people and we are not pushed to give them a very soon limit of their stay at our place in Berlin-Spandau. Living wise we work very well together right now and this is exactly what a refugees couple with unimaginable war experiences need at that time!
- I calculated 1.500 EUR of the fundraised money should be for Jane and Lawrence at their own proposal
and
- the other 1.500 EUR should be appropriate to balance out the costs I have with Alex to finance their attendance of 15 weeks (food, drinks, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, new backpacks, electricity, water, energy, my second laptop for being up to date, already needed a new air bed, coz my old one got broken these days, and all what could come next) until the end of August 2022.
By the way, we don’t receive anything at all from the state. There is just a little “pocket money” for the two which I don’t want to touch just for the fact to buy food or let them pay anything for their living with us. I think they should keep it and use it for themselves instead. Starting a new life especially these days will be costly enough.
Everything above the goal of 3K goes completely to them and helps to reach the aim of 10.5K for creating the blocked account and continue studying.
I am optimistic, we can reach this on the long term. And also that they already will be able to work (bureaucracy hinders a bit) and moving in their own flat by the end of August, when my calculation ends.
What will happen after August 2022? We will see. The aim remains to get Jane and Lawrence back on track into a routined life, which they can afford living and continue studying.
In the case we will not reach the 3K, that will be on my risk too, as we would do 50/50 with the money. So it wouldn’t cover the variable costs of just living together in my flat over the period of 15 weeks. But this would be my package to carry then.
And for those who know Alex and me, we are always open to introduce the both and do some leisure activity together, e.g. a BBQ boat trip on the Havel already planned in June.
Integration is an ongoing task of us all so don’t hesitate to ask what we have planned or arrange something where we all 4 can pop up commonly. Both is highly appreciated.
Why did I start the fundraising?
Many friends are asking frequently since May, how they could support, because we all are concerned over this cruel war and where it goes. Of course, not everyone can or is willing to accommodate a refugee’s couple in their own home and to say it clear: That’s totally allright!
But if we wanna show a united Europe against Putin’s war we all can give a little bit. At least in this case you all know to who your money goes and where in specific it does help. This I guarantee and for those who know me, you can be assured that every little cent will be used as mentioned above.
Now I keep my fingers crossed for your grace over Jane and Lawrence, who had to escape already twice in their lifes. Let’s try to reach the 3K very soon and let’s see what comes around on top of that (10.5K each for the blocked account as their long term goal - every Euro helps!).
All the best and take care everyone of you and stay healthy. Stefan