Meryem has just made a significant journey from Turkey to the USA against all odds. She and her family are the survivors of the Gulf war, from Mardin Turkey.  If you meet this kind sole,  you will immediately see a determined, hardworking, smart and young woman who is great with children. She has worked her way through highschool supporting her family in Izmir.  She came to the US as an Au-pair. She is currently attending college at this moment and  is struggling to find work as she needs to pay for her college tuition very soon to not jeapordize her status as a student.  We all have full confidence that she can do this by working her way through school as she has done in the past.  She gained our and our students' hearts as well as our administration's confidence when she eagerly volunteered her time as a teacher aid during our fall semester at the Berkeley Turkish School. That is why, together as a couple of moms we started this campaign to support Meryem due to the time sensitive situation she is in. Her school starts this coming week and we would like to provide to her the opportunity to continue.

To make a difference in the education of a young woman, you don't need to go very far ...  We would like to ask you for your financial support in this stage of Meryem's life. We have a chance to support Meryem in her ambitions. Her bravery and her great passion for learning has made her follow her dreams to the other side of the world. Please show your generosity and support this wonderful young woman to pursue her educational dreams.
This funding will fully be going towards Meryem's college tuition. Meryem needs to stay registered as a student to be permitted to stay in the US.

Below is her own story from her own words:
"I was born in 1991, Mardin/Turkey. When I was five years old me and my family had to move to Izmir, because of the Gulf War. My father used to commute long distances from Mardin to work as a driver in Iraq and support our family in Mardin. When he found out chemical bombs would be dropped onto Iraq and the effects could be felt from Mardin, he packed up our family and sent us to Izmir.   I am the youngest of seven siblings. My mother is a homemaker and my father is currently retired.  At age 14 I supported my family by working as a stylist in high school in Izmir. After I graduated from high school, I had to work because my family needed financial support. During this time I worked as a cashier, sales assistant and babysitter. Working full time didn't stop me from preparing for big exam to go to college. I completed a non-profit government course to prepare for the university exams while I was working as a field sales manager for Aytac. Even though I had a very low chance to get in to university, I didn't give up. After I studied very hard, I was able to go Manisa Celal Bayar University and my major was Art History. While I was attending my university courses, I worked part time and got great grades. As a result of my good academic standing, I received financial aid such as Turk Egitim Vakfi, COVAK, KYK, Karsiyaka Belediyesi Her Apartman Bir Öğrenci Okutuyor. I also volunteering in public relations office in at the university I studied. My role was to cooperate with the student the office. It was during that role that I I realized I needed to improve my English, and that's why I started taking some English courses. I wanted to improve my English and practice my conversational skills. That is why I applied to the " work and travel " program which is supported by a nonprofit organizations called COVAK. By the time I arrived to US, and lived with my host family I was on my own. I felt so free from the society and family pressures on me in Turkey. This country has provided me the chance to focus on my dreams of higher education and my goals about my future. I couldn't do that in Turkey because of family and financial problems always followed me. After I completed this three months program one of the lady that I know from leadership program in Turkey introduced me to family that was looking for helper. While I was helping this family, I applied to school to make my dreams come true. Unfortunately I couldn't extend my visa on the time because of miscommunication with school. I went back Turkey to apply F1 student visa, after they proved my visa I came back. But plans have changed with the family that I was helping for. Since children's mother quit her job, they didn't need me anymore. I don't have enough time to find new place to live and job to work. My school is going to start January 3rd. I really would love to complete my school in US. I need place to live and job to work now. If you can help me or if you know anyone that would help me please let me know. If I don't start going school on the time they will cancel my visa and send me back to my country. The school fee is $3200 for one level. Thank you for your support."