Hi! I'm Amara, a 22 year old trans person in Cairo preparing to begin a new chapter in my life that is rooted in dignity, autonomy, and possibility.

Living openly as a trans person in Egypt has definitely taken a toll on me. Over the years, I've had to compartmentalise and normalise far too much. Surviving loneliness, indifference, ostracisation and daily forms of violence has come to run its course. I've braved one risk after the other, and to be quite frank, I am tired. I am at the cusp of my life and yet I've barely got to live it due to prejudice and unfavourable economic circumstances.

As much as it pains me to say it, it is evident that a stable and open future for myself here isn't possible. At least not right now. If I wish to live, truly live and not just survive, I would need to leave.

A primary and eventual goal of mine would be to continue my academic interests; pursuing a Masters degree, and perhaps applying for asylum.

Building a life takes money, and a whole lot of it, to be quite frank. And to add salt to my wounds, I recently got laid off from my job as a writer thanks to AI making my position “obsolete” (yes a robot literally took my job).

So now I find myself in an even worse economic situation, in a country where I refuse to hide myself. The price, ultimately and undeniably, is just compounded and unnecessarily excessive suffering.

I am actively choosing to view every donation as a gesture of solidarity, rather than charity, as I believe in the sincerity of mutual aid, which really does go a long way;

A few years ago, a dear mentor of mine helped me organise a fund to start my transition in Egypt, and that began a new chapter in my life. Without it, I would not have been the person I am today. Mutual aid, rooted in community support rather than charity, really and truly makes the world of a difference.

Right now, I’ve applied for a scholarship in Global Archaeology at Leiden University. If it doens’t work out, then I’d have to opt for the tourist visa route; whereupon I’ll begin the process of applying for asylum and starting over from scratch. This fundraiser is to help cover the costs of either a student or tourist visa, to be a lifeline until I find a job, and finally to pay back a dear friend of mine who has helped out a great deal. Given my financial situation in Egypt, I cannot cover these costs on my own:

•⁠ ⁠Tourist/ Student Visa Fee: €120/€243

•⁠ ⁠Required Daily Funds (4 days): €400 – needed to meet visa financial requirements (will be emergency pocket money if I go the student visa route)

•⁠ ⁠Travel Costs (flights, local transport): €400

•⁠ ⁠Hotel Booking for Visa Application: €150

•⁠ ⁠Logistics & Travel Prep in Egypt: €100 (transport, printing, appointments)

•⁠ ⁠Pre travel preparations

•⁠ ⁠Starting Essentials Abroad: €1000-1500 (this will include basic necessities such as food, lodging, internet, daily expenses etc, until the asylum case is processed and housing is approved)

•⁠ ⁠Total Goal: €4000 - €5500

The plan is to travel sometime next year, at the end of 2026.

I’m not sharing this because I need to be saved, but rather because mutual support makes things possible that shouldn't have to be done alone.

Due to the colonial structures built against us, the only way for me to egress in dignity would either have to be a scholarship or, unfortunately, immigration.

If you can contribute, that would mean the world.

I wish to build a life that’s free, safe, and my own.

Thank you <3