Update 3:  We did it!!  Diana Rincon signed today the paper work and is now officially the owner of a modest apartment in Bogota. This took a little longer because of covid, but the day finally arrived.  YAY!!  

Thank you all because without your kindness and generosity the outcome would have been different. Thank you for opening your hearts to a stranger, and helping making her dream come true of living  in dignified housing.  Thank you to those that donated, that shared, and helped spread the word, every bit counted, really. 

May you find grace in knowing that your generosity made this world a little kinder.  Thank you.

Diana 

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Update 2:  AMAZING NEWS!! Thanks to all of you, Diana was able to show she has enough funds to qualify for the program, YAY!!  This was only possible thanks to your big hearts and your help.  Diana Rincon feels beyond blessed and sends each and every one of you her most sincere thoughts of gratitude.   This seemed like an impossible mountain to climb not very long ago, but with all your help, we did it!!

Because she was a little short on the funds, her cousin was able to get her a bank loan.  To help cover this loan, and to also help with the legal fees of closing ($1000 CAD), we are leaving this fundraiser open.  Every little bit helped and will continue to help.  THANK YOU!!
Thank you for donating, and sharing. You can be sure you have made a difference.

For those that have asked, the actual closing is in mid-may. 

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Update 1:  Very good news! Diana Rincon had a few donations outside of this campaign, so that we only have to raise $4500 to help her avoid homelessness. Let's do this!!   Thank you to all that have donated, and please keep sharing this campaign.

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The story of Diana Rincon in many ways is not unusual from the many daughters and sons that grew up in the countryside of Colombia where violence abounds.  But her's is also unique in how kindness, perseverance and disability have shaped her story.  Today she needs help from all of us to bring dignity to her living conditions.

Displaced by violence,  Diana's mother moved to Bogota before she had Diana. Soon after Diana was born, the two were abandoned by Diana's father and her mother had to raise her alone.  With love and resourcefulness they managed, and Diana was able to go to school. She even got a scholarship to go to community college where she learned how to take care of children. 



Unfortunately, soon after, her mother fell ill to Alzheimer, which left her housebound and 24h dependent on Diana.  Diana was unable to work, and instead dedicated her youth to taking care of her mother.  They lived off her mother's small pension and the odd jobs that Diana could find that she could do from home (like cutting gauzes for a clinic).  After 15 years of constant care, Diana's mother passed away.  She no longer received her mother's pension.

Without experience, it was very difficult for Diana to find a job.  She even enrolled in community college again, and it was then that she was proposed to get evaluated.  She learned that she has a mental disability and it became clear that it was best for her to leave the program.  Since then, she has worked minimum wage jobs (e.g. messenger lady, caregiver for former guerilla and paramilitary youth) and has downsized to renting a bedroom and walking everywhere. She does not let her disability define her and always works with all her heart.

Now at 53 years old, and after so many tribulations and hardship, from being bullied by co-renters, bullied by disarmed-youth she was taking care of in a government program, a mild disability that renders the playing field not leveled, with a minimum-wage job, and without immediate family, Diana has the amazing opportunity to become the owner of a small apartment subsidized by the Colombian government.  

The catch is that she has to pay the downpayment of ~$12800 CAD dollars and the deadline is April 20th (the rest is paid by the government).  With a lot of effort in savings, and some help from her family and friends, she has raised $5700 CAD.  This is monumental for a person that earns less than ten dollars a day.  She is missing $7100 CAD.

Her dream is to have something to call her own,  a place where she can feel safe, never be a burden to anyone and give back to others.

Please consider donating to help her dream come true.  No amount is too small.
Even sharing her story is a blessing you send her way.
Thank you!