Can you help me fulfil my childhood dream?

Hey, my name is Lolevia.

I have a once in a lifetime opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream of mine.

I was born and raised in the central desert location of Alice Springs (Australia). I'm almost 17 years old and have just completed two years of Steiner home-schooling as our local Steiner school currently only goes up to year 8. I am a determined student, dedicated to my personal and academic growth and committed to achieving my highest possible standards. However, the last two years have been a lonely journey. I’ve felt cocooned and isolated, not because i’ve been homeschooled but because i’ve also been on a long challenging recovery path from Anorexia Nervosa, which is the deadliest mental illness there is.

Now I am ready I’m ready for a new chapter of my life, to spread my wings and experience what life has to offer beyond my hometown.

Since class 5 I have had the dream of doing a student exchange to Italy. I would love to experience the culture, richness, language and magic of this beautiful country. I have been learning the language for 2 years now, and this would be a great oppotnity to fully imerse myself in it and learn to speak more fluenly. It would also be an opportunity for personal and academic growth, for me to broaden my perspective, experience diversity and cultivate lifelong friendships.

The Florence Steiner school has recently accepted my exchange application for April 2024, but when I saw the costs, I was ready to give up. I knew my amazing family didn't have the funds to fully support me, given that enrolment and school fees alone are almost $6000 and that's not including boarding fees which are close to $3000 for 3 months. Florence, which is the capital of Tuscany, is an expensive region. And obviously we also have to consider the flight costs.

However the child within me who had this dream, wasn't ready to give up. I had to find a way.

I have been working really heard to help cover the funds needed to make my dream a reality; I work twice a week at a restaurant after school, babysit for several families in my free time and I also run my own lemonade stand with my younger sisters. But it’s a massive cost to cover considering I’m 16 and still at school.

All funds raised will go towards paying the school fees, boarding costs and flights for my students exchange to Italy.

So any donation, small or large would mean the world to me ♡

With love and gratitude from Lolevia