Hi everyone, my name is Sofia and I’m reaching out during one of the hardest moments of my life.

I grew up without parents from a very young age, and every step I’ve taken in life has been the result of my own effort.

Three years ago, I came to Germany completely alone, with no family or support system. Everything I built here stability, work, friendships, and a sense of belonging , came from my resilience.

I was born in Portugal, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I was never able to obtain a Portuguese nationality card, because of this, I’m unable to continue living in Germany, where certain visa procedures require a status and requirements that I simply cannot meet at the moment. I now have no choice but to return to Portugal.

This situation became even more difficult after my previous host family, where I was working as an au pair, let me go without giving me enough time to find a new place to live or a new job. I’ve been couch surfing for the past two months, constantly moving from one friend’s home to another. I’ve been actively looking for work, but my unstable visa situation and the lack of a stable place to stay have made it incredibly difficult. Living like this has deeply affected my mental health, as I never have a space of my own to rest or feel safe. I’m now running out of options, which is why I have to return to Portugal, where my documentation status is more stable.

Returning is extremely hard for me because I have no family, no home to go back to, and no support waiting for me there. I am completely on my own and need help to cover the basics of living such as food, temporary accommodation, transportation, and essential costs while I try to rebuild my life and search for work. Additionally part of the funds are going to renew some documentations , which are crucial for my future stability

Once I can stabilise my life again, my goal is to return to Berlin, because I fought so hard to be here, and it’s the place where I truly feel at home.

Even the smallest contribution makes a real difference.

If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser helps enormously. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting me during this vulnerable moment.

Your help gives me the chance to land safely and start rebuilding again.