Meriam lives in Tunis, Tunisia, where she quietly does the work most people never see.

She rescues animals.

Every day at 8pm, without fail, Meriam goes out into the streets to feed local stray cats and dogs. She works with charities, including RANA = Rescued Animals of North Africa, but much of what she does happens outside any formal structure. If she sees an animal injured, starving, or abandoned, she helps - immediately.

Meriam currently shares a small apartment with her sister and around 60 rescued animals - dogs and cats who would not be alive without her. All of her income goes towards food, vet visits, medication, and emergency care. There are days when Meriam chooses not to eat so her animals can.

I know this because I lived it with her.

In December, I stayed with Meriam and her sister for a week and experienced her daily reality firsthand. Despite having little, they welcomed me with extraordinary generosity. I saw how relentless the work is, and how much love and sacrifice it requires.

Meriam also took in my rescued kitten in October and has been caring for him ever since. Organising vaccinations, vet visits, and paperwork so he can fly safely to Paris next month. She does this for countless animals, often paying the costs herself.

While organisations like RANA can sometimes help financially when an animal is already part of an adoption case, Meriam rescues animals as they appear - hit by cars, sick, injured, abandoned. For example, while I was there, a dog had been hit by a car. Meriam took her to the vet immediately and paid for life-saving surgery out of her own pocket.

This GoFundMe is to help cover:

-Outstanding and ongoing vet bills

-Medication and treatment costs

-Food for the animals she is already caring for

-Essential living expenses that allow her to continue this work

I have screenshots of unpaid vet bills and receipts and am happy to share these for full transparency.

Meriam does not do this for recognition. She does it because she cannot walk past suffering. Your donation - no matter the size - will go directly towards keeping animals alive and easing the financial burden she carries alone.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page would mean the world.

Thank you for helping someone who gives everything she has to those who have nothing.