A journey to my lost family, Reconnecting with my roots

Jolie-Anne April Start Date: Mar 24, 2025 - End Date: Jul 11, 2025

My Travel Story

by: Jolie-Anne April Start Date: Mar 24, 2025 - End Date: Jul 11, 2025
My name is Jolie, I’m 27 years old, and I’m a 3D modeling student. I recently completed a specialized program and have just been accepted into university for this fall — a dream I’ve been working hard to achieve.




But today, I want to talk about something even more personal and meaningful: family.




For as long as I can remember, I’ve grown up without one. My mother left when I was young, and my father passed away in another province after seven years of no contact. I never got the chance to see him again — something that still weighs heavily on me. It taught me how easily time can slip away before we realize it.




A few months ago, something unexpected happened: my aunt — the only family I’ve ever really known — reconnected with relatives in France. She then put me in touch with them, and I found out I had an entire part of my family I never knew existed.




Since then, we’ve been exchanging messages, and I’ve started to piece together a part of my story that always felt missing. I now have a deep desire to meet them — to hear their voices, their stories, and to finally feel that sense of connection I’ve longed for.




Unfortunately, due to health issues, they aren’t able to travel. Their condition isn’t critical, but it’s uncertain — and after what happened with my father, I can’t bring myself to wait and risk missing this chance. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize it’s too late.




This is why I’m launching this fundraiser: to help cover the costs of traveling to France and finally meeting the family I never had the chance to know. As a student, my financial situation is limited. I’m working hard to build my future, but this piece of my past — my roots — feels too important to postpone.




I’m not looking for pity. I’m sharing this because it’s a real, heartfelt journey of belonging, identity, and reconnection. Any support — whether financial, emotional, or even just by sharing my story — means the world to me.




Thank you from the bottom of my heart.