Help Yllka's Dream Come True

"Let me fall if I must fall, the woman I'm becoming will catch me."

I am Sofie Andreou, a professor/lecturer at Trent University and I'm reaching out to the community to help a student of mine. From the moment I've met Yllka, I've been blown away her strength and passion. I've met 1000s of students over the course of my career thus far, and her story is truly exemplary.

She reached out to me recently and shared her struggle to stay enrolled at Trent University, and I feel as if this community can come together to help her. She is studying in Canada, 3rd year now, as a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science, actually, against all odds, and I hope she is able to stay complete her studies.

This is her story (Short Version):


This is her story (Long Version)



"Dear Sofie,
As you know, I am about to become a student in your Digital Marketing course. I am reaching out to you because I am struggling & I am hoping you might have some advice. I am an international student at Trent University, doing a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science. I was born in Kosovo (SouthEast Europe) two years before the war started in my country. My family and I were forced to seek refuge in Albania for about a year, only to come back and find out we'd lost everything including our house. I grew up in poverty in Kosovo, a war-torn country. The reason why I mention war and poverty is that it has shaped the course of my life. Coming to Canada had always been a dream of mine. My family had told me many times that it would never be possible - but I never believed them. In my earliest years, I have memories of studying by candlelight because of electricity outage, dreaming of getting into a university somewhere else. I saved all my money, and spent it on internet cafes, researching schools and finding programs that might accept me. Then by some miracle, I got accepted to Trent and I thought my struggles were over. My family and I shed tears opening that letter, but that was only the start of my journey. My focus has been getting into school, and I had not idea the immense cost I would be taking on going to Trent as an international student. Tuition for a foreign student is $22,000/year. I got a scholarship from Soroptimist International of Europe in my first year, which covered the costs for one year. In my second year Soroptimist clubs and individuals got together and fundraised $22,000 in about a month. And that is how I paid for my tuition for the second year. I've had an ongoing financial and emotional support from Soroptimists from all around the world and I am forever grateful. Now I am starting my third year and I am reaching out for help from other sources because my family cannot pay for my tuition, and I cannot pay either because there is a limit to the hours that I can work and it is only enough for my living expenses.



I am in love with this country and Peterborough and I would be devastated to have to return home empty-handed. I am hoping to finish my degree. If you have any ideas for how to go about this, I would be forever grateful. Thanks, Yllka Bojku "

We hope you will help Yllka's Dream come true.
Sofie Andreou