Hello,

My name is Utkarsh, and I’m an Indian who was raised in the Middle Eastern country and have spent 20 years of my life there. When COVID-19 broke out in 2020, I was in my final year of my undergraduate degree at the University of Buffalo in the US. We all know what happened to the economy in that period, so I won’t go into much detail as the same happened to me as well.

I could not get a job and had to return home, but I couldn’t go back to Kuwait as my visa was unable to be renewed due to strict travel restrictions. I had to instead call a new country “home” – India. I’ve been living here for the past 4 years where things have not been good for me. I work as an analyst and give care to my grandparents, especially my grandmother who suffers from Parkinson’s. Anyone who has given care will know that one cannot just “take a break” or “change jobs” easily as it could indirectly affect their health.

For the first time in 4 years, I finally have two weeks to visit home, alas, no funding. I now turn to the kindness of people who can help me visit the place I call home and meet the people closest to me. I need $700 to help me fund airline tickets and pay for visa processing. The photos I’ve posted were taken in 2019, the last time I went home.

Thank you,
Utkarsh Chaturvedi