Dear friends, family, and compassionate supporters,

My name is Nicole Philanderin 24 years of age and I’m writing this with a hopeful heart.

Over the past year an a half ,I’ve been living in Germany, volunteering and contributing to my host community. During the final months of my volunteer year, I found out I was pregnant. Even after receiving this life-changing news, I remained determined to build a future for myself and my child. I actively applied for jobs and Ausbildung (vocational training) programs, hoping to secure a stable life.

Sadly, things didn’t go as planned. After giving birth, I learned that I am not legally allowed to work during this early stage of motherhood. On top of that, my baby is still too young to be enrolled in kindergarten, which makes it impossible for me to work or even attend interviews.

I’ve also been struggling financially. With no income and no support system here, I haven’t been able to pay my monthly health insurance since giving birth — and the unpaid balance continues to grow. I’m now in an incredibly difficult position, and my visa is set to expire in July.

This is why I’m starting this GoFundMe:

* To raise enough money to pay off my outstanding health insurance debt

* To afford a flight ticket back home to Namibia, where I can be with family and rebuild

* To ensure my baby and I can return home safely and with dignity

I’ve done everything I can to make it work here, but I now need your help to take the next step. Any contribution — no matter how small — will make a big difference in helping me and my child get back on our feet.

Thank you so much for reading, for sharing, and for supporting us during this incredibly vulnerable time.

With gratitude,
Nicole Philander