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Help us save Black Dog Pub

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EDIT: Thanks to all of the lovely people who donated and shared this campaign so far, we wouldn't be able to do this without all of you. 

 

Hi. We are Natko Knez and Ena Cesar.  We are a couple trying to raise money for Natko's mother Ksenija Knez, who is a single mother and an independent businesswoman, and help her save her iconic ''Black Dog Pub'' from going into debt and disappearing. Black Dog Pub is a place where the alternative music scene (both artists and enthusiasts) come together to hangout, exchange ideas and relax. It is a place of tolerance and kindness. In her pub, Ksenija held a couple of money raising events such as collecting donations for our local dog shelter and hosting a ''Knit a Square'' event. Below, we will attach her story in which you can find out what the funds will be going towards. It's an urgent situation and we would be so grateful if you would help. Every single coin counts and means the world to us. Thank you in advance to all the kind-hearted people who will donate or share this campaign with their friends and family. 

This is her story:

'' My name is Ksenija Knez. I live in Croatia, in a small town called Varaždin, and I have my own little company Planinkinja j.d.o.o under which my little pub ‘’Black Dog Pub’’ operates.
I am 52 years old, I am a single mother of two boys – one of which attends high school and who lives with me in a modest rented apartment with out dear 12 year old dog.
After losing my job two years ago, I decided to self-employ so we could survive but also to turn my numerous ideas and visions into reality. That’s how my ‘’Black Dog Pub’’ (named after our black labrador Cora) was born. I opened it in the centre of Varaždin, and what made it so different from all the other bars was that it catered to and supported Varaždin’s alternative music scene. Every day you can hear anything ranging from rock, metal, punk, hardcore, hip hop and anything else that is not considered ‘’mainstream.’’ Everyone is always welcome to come and see what we are about, maybe it sparks a new musical interest.
On the business and management level, I deal with thousands of challenges every day on the basis of being so different in a mostly conservative milieu but I also genuinely think it’s amazing to do something you love, even if it means that you have to walk alone for a while. It feels amazing to have people around you who share similar views and tastes, it feels good to support my local underground scene through my business.
When I was starting out with this project, literally trying to create it from nothing, I couldn’t get through to any Croatian bank. I couldn’t get the needed funds to start because no one here had any understanding or compassion towards the vulnerable groups. They will only give more and more to those who already have a lot but will take away from those in need. The only person in that moment who wanted to help, when all of my ‘’friends’’ turned their backs on me and covered their ears when I pleaded, he pledged his money for the period of two years so I could get the initial capital. The time ran out and I need to give this money back.
I never thought that I would have to go through this hell again, that all of the Croatian banks will turn their backs on me again and reject my requests for the credit with which I would pay back this initial investment, give my company ‘’financial injection’’ of a sort to help it spread and grow as a business, in order to expand the profits.
This is a dead-end. A hopeless and embarrassing situation.
My son’s existence, my own existence and the existence of my business are being called into question.
My honor and gratitude to this person are being called into question - the only person who was willing to help and wanted to see me succeed. Now he is the one who needs help. In the meantime, he fell ill and definitely needs his part of the money back.
I trusted the system, hoped it would support a woman who bravely fights for the survival of her family and her company that employs three other young people. I am completely alone in everything, I have no other family who would help, who would back me up – my parents passed away 15 years ago, my only aunt is gone, and last year, my older brother tragically ended his own life. I simply
cannot understand why and how society and my own country, this system and this government doesn’t want to aid me and give me a chance as a small entrepreneur, and instead keeps openly and purposely shoving me into a financial disaster. The only thing this system is giving me are constant bills and payment slips for a myriad of taxes and givings.
Further existence of the iconic ‘’Black Dog Pub’’ is uncertain.
My three employees, my teenage son and I are at risk.
My physical and mental state are deteriorating and I am afraid for the safety of my child. I have been crying for days, I can’t sleep, I can’t breathe from the constant panic I am in. My heart and soul are heavy. My body is shaking with stress, fear and I can’t seem to find a way out. I am desperate and hopeless… starting to think of the worst from all of the pressure of the seemingly hopeless situation… and then the sorrow tears me to pieces because how could I ever do this to my son who hasn’t even fully grown yet. I can’t leave him alone, I would never want him to go through the pain of his parents leaving him too early like mine did.
This is my scream. This is my cry.
I need help. ''

She wants you to know that none of the funds are for her personal gain, the money will be going towards repaying the bank debt and the person who helped her; ''I am not interested in hoarding big amounts of money for myself, I am not interested in material things. If I could (and I do when I can) I would give all the excess to the charities and the people who truly need it. This is purely about the survival and fighting the good fight. This is for the survival of a safe place for all the sub-cultures, all those who are seen as misfits and are shunned and seen as a ''less than'' only because they are different, only because they are not afraid to be themselves. Asking for help and writing this is really hard for me, please understand that this is bigger than myself as an individual. This is little businesses trying to survive in the monopoly of big corporations, this is single parents trying to make it on their own, this is the 'outside-the-box' thinkers trying to swim against the current, this is all of us who are trying to make a difference - no matter how small. All these different institutions turned their backs on me, didn't want to hear me because I was not anyone significant in their eyes, all the while they were filling the pockets of those who already had too much and taking away from those who try to earn through honest work and keeping their integrity.''

Your help is greatly appreciated and the good deeds will come back to you. :)

Fundraising team: Natko and Ena (1)

Natko Knez
Organizer
Ena Cesar
Team member

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