I'm Kate and I am fundraising on behalf of my friend and long term sex worker rights activist, Eugenia Aravena. I've known Eugenia for nearly twenty years, during which time she has tirelessly fought to transform the conditions of sex workers in Cordoba, Argentina and across the world. A simple Google search will find you endless articles detailing her tireless fight for justice.
A series of unfortunate and extremely distressing personal events and the recent extremely serious economic crisis in Argentina have left Eugenia and her son, Camilo unhoused. Euge is currently living in a tent inside a construction site with no bathroom, a floor, or openings and the roof leaks a lot. Below Euge outlines the situation for herself, but there are other extreme circumstances not detailed here for reasons of privacy, which have produced serious stress for both Euge and Cami and which heighten the need further for a space for them to live.
In the current crisis, every single pound will go a long way to helping get secure housing for Euge and Cami. This is not only a plea for personal help, but to support an activist who wants to continue her militancy which has been so vital for so many, but which is currently unable to do in such insecure circumstances.
In Eugenia's words:
I could tell a book about my story, but in summary I must say that I spent my entire life campaigning for the human and labour rights of sex workers until the death of my son's father in 2019. I was at the head of the Ammar Córdoba civil association. I also founded schools; gardens; courses and workshops of all kinds for my colleagues. I am also the founder of the RRTS- Network for the Recognition of Sexual Work in Argentina, of which she was a part, currently coordinating the School of Human and Political Training LocAcademia that belongs to said network.
This year they increased my rent by 100%, a situation that I could only sustain for three months since October 1st. I returned to live in my Father's house, who died in the pandemic, along with my mother. We. live in a very vulnerable neighborhood with extreme levels of violence.
In my homelessness, my brother gave me a room that he was building, but it lacks a bathroom and a bedroom for Camilo, my son. The floor is also missing and the openings are under construction; so I have to sleep in a tent because of the rodents and insects. This situation that at almost 43 years old and after a life of much struggle has me completely exhausted.
The death of my son's father changed everything; He was diagnosed with a tumour in the pancreas on June 21, 2019. I was left with nothing at that moment for his only son El Cami. Since then I have been pursuing legal proceedings to recover his property from his family who have left nothing to take care of his son.
We have just appealed a judicial measure again before the courts of Río Tercero since they ordered us to declare the heirs. Cami's family never informed him of the death of his Grandmother, Cami called on the phone and his grandmother never answered. A few months later we received a debt from the school that she supported from Kindergarten to her grandson. The Director of the school contemplated and has granted Camilo a scholarship until he finishes his sixth year, which he has just passed despite going through a hostile context and quite a crisis in every sense. It has been four years since my son's father died dealing with a totally bureaucratic and dehumanized system, just trying to keep a roof over our heads.
My health has deteriated significantly due to these stressful circumstances. I underwent surgery for a tumor in my left eye; cyst on the vocal cords and intestinal diseases that keep me on strict diets.
Today we need your help to be able to build a space where we can live peacefully without the pressure of a rent.
When we build the house, we plan to also start an organic garden and a recycling space for community ventures and to continue my work fighting for the rights of sex workers and all of the dispossessed.
Thank you for your support. It means the world.