Hi everyone - my name is Lavena. The concept of asking of help in my culture is a hard one but here I am as a last resort. Last year, I completed my MSc in Clinical Psychology at the University of Plymouth in England and it was the most joyful and amazing experience but I couldn't do it without the help of my parents who have given so much of their life to support me and my two sisters achieve our goals. Pursuing a PhD has always been a dream of mine but it has always intimidated me. At first, I wanted to become a psychologist and help those struggling with mental health issues and addiction. Prior to leaving for my master's degree, I did a program at Algonquin College which allowed me to work with individuals affected by the criminal justice system as well as victims of homelessness. I met resilient and amazing people during this experience and I knew then and there that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping any person undergoing such terrible circumstances and tragedies.

Throughout my life, my parents have always supported us no matter what - especially in regards to finances as they were in a position to do so. In this case, I’d have to support myself financially. I have received and conditional offer for a PhD in Psychology in Plymouth however, I am unable to afford it, even with financial aid. This is my dream and hopefully one day, I can give back to my community through becoming a psychologist and give back to my parents for being there unconditionally for all these years.

I am aware of how difficult the times are at the moment and even myself, I am looking for multiple jobs to be able to support my family as well as work towards this PhD. My tuition is 35k a year however, if I work hard enough during my PhD, I can reduce to half for the following years as well as through applying to bursaries. This is my last resort and I do have hope. Nonetheless, scrolling through all the fundraisers here, I definitely know that there are many others in need that warrant more attention and help. Still, I would be eternally grateful for donations and I promise that it will not go to waste. My parents gave up their educational dreams to move to Canada and give us an amazing life and I am hoping that one day, I can show them that they made the right decision. Thank you for reading this and giving me your time and attention.

~ Lav <3