Please Help Sylvia Study for a Law degree during Crisis

Greetings,

My name is Sylvia, and I am an international student currently pursuing a law degree in the UK. As I sit down to write this, I reflect on how far I have come despite the many challenges I have faced in life, and how much further I need to go to achieve my dreams. Growing up, I have always been unprivileged in many ways. I come from a part of the world where opportunities are scarce, and resources are limited. In Nigeria, young people like me face enormous obstacles to succeed, and many are unable to thrive despite their best efforts. As a girl growing up in Nigeria, I faced discrimination, especially when it came to my education. My education was seen as “unnecessary” as opposed to that of the boys. However, I have always believed in myself and the power of education.

While attending university is an opportunity many people have access to, getting to where I am today has been anything but easy. Having completed my foundation year, I am hoping to progress into my first year of law school in September 2025. It is a dream I have fought hard to realize, but I can’t help but feel the ground slipping beneath my feet. I was only able to complete my foundation year thanks to the unwavering support of my mother, who is my sole supporter. She has been my pillar of strength, raising me and my siblings as a single parent. Despite her best efforts and sacrifices, the economic crisis in Nigeria has devastated our lives. The country’s financial collapse has left many, both in and out of Nigeria, struggling to survive. My mother, who once worked tirelessly to support me, is now unable to continue funding my education. All her savings for the entirety of my studies has been melted in the crisis. Due to the crisis, 1 Pound currently equals over 2000 Nigerian currency, and has the possibility of going higher. I have been left at a critical crossroads: forced to fend for myself in a foreign country with little hope of returning home to a future in Nigeria. As a full-time international student, I face visa restrictions that limit how much I can work, and even when I do manage to find employment, it is not enough to cover my tuition fees and living expenses. I am at a point where I am struggling to keep up with my financial obligations and the thought of being unable to get an education haunts me every day. My mother is currently frequenting the hospital due to her high blood pressure which has been on the increase since the crisis. This troubles me every day. I am losing time with every passing day due to restrictions, and reaching my goal sooner will save me from facing worse difficulties.

What makes this situation even more difficult is the fact that I have silently struggled with undiagnosed ADHD since childhood. This has added another layer of complexity to my journey. As a student with undiagnosed ADHD, I go through difficulties that I struggle to make the average person understand. I am at a point where I fail to properly articulate these ADHD feelings. The waiting list for a diagnosis take years, which means this is going to be my reality for a long time. I have felt out of place for long and my current financial situation only makes it worse. I am always filled with anxiety regarding my education, and this only makes my condition worse. With a brain that never stops thinking, I am unable to avoid falling into total chaos. I am 19 years old and go through all this alone, and when I look around, I cannot even find my mum. Balancing my mental health challenges with the demands of full-time study and part-time work has been incredibly overwhelming. But my determination to succeed remains unshaken. I want to achieve my goals, not only for myself but also for my mother, who has sacrificed so much to get me here. I want her to see me succeed, to know that all her struggles were not in vain.

Throughout my journey, I have faced significant setbacks, including the following:

• In 2024, I received an offer to study LLB Law at the University of York. However, due to a lack of funds, my offer was withdrawn. Undeterred, I made the bold decision to reapply to universities for 2025 entry. I will soon attach evidence of my offer confirmation from the University of York for the 2024 academic session, as well as evidence of the offer withdrawal.

• I was also awarded a £10,000 tuition fee discount from the University of York for 2024 entry, which I accepted. Unfortunately, I lost this scholarship because I was unable to secure the remaining funding. I will soon attach evidence of the £10,000 scholarship.

• In 2024, I launched a fundraiser to cover my tuition fees. However, after more than six months with no contributions, I had to delete it.

• I also applied for the Black Heart Foundation Scholarship, which gave me great hope. Unfortunately, my application was unsuccessful. I will soon attach evidence of this outcome.

The fact that I continue to push forward demonstrates my resilience and unwavering determination to succeed.

I currently hold an offer to study LLB Law at Durham university for 2025 entry. I will soon attach the offer letter here.

As an international student, I face an extremely high amount of tuition fee. This fundraising is for my tuition for the duration of my programme. Regarding cost of living, I am determined to work very hard to support myself. I will do this by working part time during term time and fulltime during vacations. If I am able to meet my fundraising goal, I will be able to study like others, improve the quality of my life overtime, and also achieve my future goals. I am reaching out to you with a humble request for support. Any contribution you can offer would go a long way in helping me continue my studies and fulfilling my aspirations.

HOW FUNDS BEING RAISED WILL BE USED:

TUITION:

GOFUNDME CHARGES:

Please do not think any support you can give is too small. A little will eventually go a long way, so no matter how little you think what you can give is, please give it, and you will be contributing to a positive change. I believe in the power of education, and I know that with your kindness and generosity, I could graduate, become a lawyer, and make a meaningful impact in society. I have left my country for a better future, not just for myself, but for my family, and for people who need support. I have the passion to drive change, and an education will play a critical role in facilitating that.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, wherever you are in the world. I hope you find me worthy of your support and believe in the potential I hold. Thank you to everyone who has decided to donate, share my fundraising, or encourage me. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, and I will be more than happy to respond as soon as possible.

You can donate offline by cheque, cash, bank transfer, etcetera. Please contact me if you would like to donate offline. I can be contacted via this fundraiser, and also my LinkedIn profile which is open. Please find the link to my LinkedIn profile below:

LinkedIn profile: http://linkedin.com/in/chinaza-s-754865295

Please share this fundraiser to your network.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Sylvia