A different future for Jenny and Thomas' children
Jenny and Thomas want to ensure a different future for their 3 children and for the fourth who is yet to be born. They are of Roma origin, but this has never stopped their desire for inclusion. The economic situation of the family is tragic and the father can't rest: every day he delivers curriculum but now finding a job is not easy. Help us to support the initial expenses of this family who wholeheartedly wants to get out of this misery and guarantee a happy future for their children.
My name is Elena, I am part of the Pope John XXIII Community and often encounters with situations of need have questioned my life. And so it was also with Jenny and Thomas, a young Roma family that I met near the city where I live and to whom I chose to give my support with my gaze fixed on the life of Don Oreste Benzi who, since the 1990s, has led the Community to be close to the Roma and Sinti people in the direction of true inclusion.
Their economic situation was tragic: they lived in a dilapidated camper, they didn't even have gas to heat or cook. Thomas worked occasionally, but always off the books, because no one hires someone "like him". The only thing left was begging in order to scrape together some money to eat, but the lock-down in March closed everything and their hands remained as empty as the streets of our cities.
I listened to their cry for help and thanks also to the local community and their parish priest we helped them to ensure at least some hot meals. We managed to find a used camper for them to live in, because theirs no longer protected them even from the rain. But this was not enough, because giving a decent future to their 3 children and to the one who is about to be born is their greatest desire. Thomas told me one day: my children can't live like birds who only eat if they find something. And he's right...
Thomas didn't give up and delivered resumes everywhere, while Jenny took care of the children. Finally in November Thomas found a job, but 30 km away from where they live and with no safe means to get there. He couldn't give up and miss this opportunity, so we helped him find a used car so he could get to the factory every morning. The cost of the car is modest, 900 euros, but for Thomas it's still a lot and he has to pay in installments. On top of that there are the costs of the transfer of ownership, insurance and fuel.
He could not have known that after only 10 days the company would no longer need him because of the closure of the entire production line. Thomas found himself without a paycheck and with expenses still to cover. And how does one get back up without a job? How can you work if you don't even have the money to feed yourself? That is why we have chosen to help him again and ask for your support at this time when there is no income. The amount they need is not impossible to reach if there are enough of us and each one of us puts in what we can.
Over the last few days, an image came to mind: a big, tall tree full of juicy fruit, but which you can't get to without a ladder! The tree is inclusion in society, integration, recovery of dignity. The ladder is who believes in you, cares about your dreams and cheers for you, even if you are the last team in the standings.
I,who was born on the right side of the world, don't know what it's like to live in hardship, to suffer from the cold, to not have a primary care physician, to feel branded and judged before you even open your mouth, to reach out to hope for some coin... but I do know that we, all together, can be that ladder for Thomas and his family.
I,who was born on the right side of the world, don't know what it's like to live in hardship, to suffer from the cold, to not have a primary care physician, to feel branded and judged before you even open your mouth, to reach out to hope for some coin... but I do know that we, all together, can be that ladder for Thomas and his family.
This family is very determined and has already done so much to change their situation: the children are finally going to kindergarten and we have managed to get Thomas a residence, small steps towards a new life. Not a day goes by without Thomas looking for a job, but it's not easy in this period, he tries hard and we believe in him.
I, my loved ones and other friends have helped this family with small donations, not only for the camper and the car, but also for diapers and groceries... but the tree is still too high.
That's why we are asking for your help, to support the initial expenses of this family who wholeheartedly wants to get out of this misery and guaranteea happy future for their children. Let's help them.
To protect the privacy of the family, names are fictional and images are archival.
2,665 €
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2,500 €
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My name is Elena, I am part of the Pope John XXIII Community and often encounters with situations of need have questioned my life. And so it was also with Jenny and Thomas, a young Roma family that I met near the city where I live and to whom I chose to give my support with my gaze fixed on the life of Don Oreste Benzi who, since the 1990s, has led the Community to be close to the Roma and Sinti people in the direction of true inclusion.
Their economic situation was tragic: they lived in a dilapidated camper, they didn't even have gas to heat or cook. Thomas worked occasionally, but always off the books, because no one hires someone "like him". The only thing left was begging in order to scrape together some money to eat, but the lock-down in March closed everything and their hands remained as empty as the streets of our cities.
I listened to their cry for help and thanks also to the local community and their parish priest we helped them to ensure at least some hot meals. We managed to find a used camper for them to live in, because theirs no longer protected them even from the rain. But this was not enough, because giving a decent future to their 3 children and to the one who is about to be born is their greatest desire. Thomas told me one day: my children can't live like birds who only eat if they find something. And he's right...
Thomas didn't give up and delivered resumes everywhere, while Jenny took care of the children. Finally in November Thomas found a job, but 30 km away from where they live and with no safe means to get there. He couldn't give up and miss this opportunity, so we helped him find a used car so he could get to the factory every morning. The cost of the car is modest, 900 euros, but for Thomas it's still a lot and he has to pay in installments. On top of that there are the costs of the transfer of ownership, insurance and fuel.
He could not have known that after only 10 days the company would no longer need him because of the closure of the entire production line. Thomas found himself without a paycheck and with expenses still to cover. And how does one get back up without a job? How can you work if you don't even have the money to feed yourself? That is why we have chosen to help him again and ask for your support at this time when there is no income. The amount they need is not impossible to reach if there are enough of us and each one of us puts in what we can.
Over the last few days, an image came to mind: a big, tall tree full of juicy fruit, but which you can't get to without a ladder! The tree is inclusion in society, integration, recovery of dignity. The ladder is who believes in you, cares about your dreams and cheers for you, even if you are the last team in the standings.
I,who was born on the right side of the world, don't know what it's like to live in hardship, to suffer from the cold, to not have a primary care physician, to feel branded and judged before you even open your mouth, to reach out to hope for some coin... but I do know that we, all together, can be that ladder for Thomas and his family.
I,who was born on the right side of the world, don't know what it's like to live in hardship, to suffer from the cold, to not have a primary care physician, to feel branded and judged before you even open your mouth, to reach out to hope for some coin... but I do know that we, all together, can be that ladder for Thomas and his family.
This family is very determined and has already done so much to change their situation: the children are finally going to kindergarten and we have managed to get Thomas a residence, small steps towards a new life. Not a day goes by without Thomas looking for a job, but it's not easy in this period, he tries hard and we believe in him.
I, my loved ones and other friends have helped this family with small donations, not only for the camper and the car, but also for diapers and groceries... but the tree is still too high.
That's why we are asking for your help, to support the initial expenses of this family who wholeheartedly wants to get out of this misery and guaranteea happy future for their children. Let's help them.
To protect the privacy of the family, names are fictional and images are archival.
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