Hi, I'm Umut. I’m 18, from Turkey, now in Berlin. Five weeks ago I landed here with a one-way ticket, €500, and a t-shirt with my CV printed on the back, knowing no one. Since then: four job offers, a seat on Dr. Soekadar's research team, my university place on the way, and in August, I'll be speaking at TEDx here in Berlin.

What I need: To get my German student visa, the law requires €12,000 to sit in a "blocked account" (Sperrkonto). The money isn't spent: the state locks it and releases €992 back to me each month, as a guarantee that I'm financially safe while studying. Normally, parents cover this. Mine have been out of the picture since I was ten, fifteen days before my 18th birthday, I moved into my own place, paid for by my own work.

Why I can't just earn it: I did get a job, my first day is tomorrow. But I need the blocked account within two weeks, and no salary can cover €12,000 in time. That's the entire gap between me and my visa: not talent, not work, just timing.

Where the money goes: Straight into the state-regulated blocked account, in my name, only to satisfy the visa requirement. Nothing else.

Honestly, I'm not someone who asks for help; I've handled everything myself since I was ten. But this one is outside my control. If I were on your side of the screen and saw this, I'd want to support it so here I am.

If you can't donate, sharing this is worth just as much. My sails are up, I just need a little wind. Thank you.

Ad astra.

Also you can check my notion page for more information and my video: https://app.notion.com/p/Umut-Akarsu-My-Story-Hik-yem-3941e7161e1081fa9701c412c9d20e6a?source=copy_link