Odette Fouche changed my life.  In 2015 she offered me a job in the travel industry and opened my eyes to how much we have in common with people from all corners of the world.  Although I left Liberty Travel in 2017 there was no way I could leave this amazing woman behind.  She has become one of my best friends and is in dire need of help.  Odette is South African and has been living and working here in the U.S. for 6 years.  Unfortunately, with COVID—19 both her future, and her daughter Chelsea’s future are in jeopardy.  With Odette’s work visa opportunities coming to an end in 2021 she began the process to gain her green card in early 2019, knowing it can take up to 2 years, but everything was put on a permanent hold this past April. With all the uncertainties we are now facing it is even more imperative for them to restart this process as soon as possible.  It is an extremely time and cost consuming process.  Please consider donating (or sharing this post) to help keep Odette & Chelsea at home among their friends who love them like family. 

Odette gave me the following message to share:

Chelsea and I said farewell to South Africa in 2014. I sold everything, and we came over to begin our new future in the USA with only two 50 pound bags each. Chelsea was only 3 years old when we came over and both of us have come to love America and see this beautiful country as our home.

I was very fortunate to continue my Flight Center career once I arrived to my new home in Loudoun County Virginia, with Liberty Travel. On 25 August I will celebrate 17 years with the Flight Centre Travel Group. I love my job and working with all my clients. I can not imagine doing anything else in my life or working for any other company. The opportunities I have been given have been life changing.

Chelsea and I have both settled in so well. She attends an amazing elementary school with great teachers, and we have made so many wonderful friends in the area. Chelsea started with Taekwondo 3 years ago and has already advanced to a red belt, one step away from her black belt. We love spending time with her friends and exploring not only Virginia and our neighbor Washington, D.C., but we have also made a point to see as much of our country as possible.  Already we have visited 7 different states with the goal to get to all 50.  We cannot imagine living anywhere else.

Covid-19 has brought our American Dream to a standstill as the effects of the virus has wreaked havoc on the travel industry.  After many phone calls and even more sleepless nights, we were referred to an immigration attorney who would like to help us to stay in America. This was not the year we thought we would need her services and subsequently have not budgeted for this expense. For us to stay in the USA we need a miracle, and the scary cost involved would be $14875.

As you can imagine this is a huge amount for us, but we want to take on this challenge as we want to stay in the USA. I know that we belong here. I pay taxes, I am an upstanding model citizen, and I volunteer in the community. My dream is for us to become American Citizens. Chelsea’s dream is to become a commercial pilot so that she can fly around the country to see as much possible.

We appreciate all the opportunities we have been given in the USA for the past 6 years. We feel safe and secure and look forward to building more of our future here. PLEASE HELP US to stay here, our home, in the USA.

We know how lucky we are to have been able to experience so much that America has to offer. We appreciate any way that you are able to help us, whether it is monetary or by sharing our story with others.  Thank you so much in advance.

~Odette & Chelsea