Help me going to Australia!

Laura Calderon Start Date: Jan 9, 2025 - End Date: Jul 8, 2025
  • Professional Development
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Australia

My Travel Story

by: Laura Calderon Start Date: Jan 9, 2025 - End Date: Jul 8, 2025
  • Professional Development
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Cultural Exchange
I am a 27-year-old Ecuadorian currently living in the United States as part of the Au Pair cultural exchange program. This program allows me to live with a host family while caring for their children and experiencing their culture. It has been a journey of both personal and professional growth, though not without its challenges.

In my first host family, I faced verbal and labor abuse, working extra hours without proper compensation and enduring emotionally difficult situations. Thankfully, after a challenging rematch process, I found a new host family that has treated me with respect, kindness, and support. I am deeply grateful to them for making this stage of my life more manageable.

As an Au Pair, I am not allowed to seek additional work or income outside of the program’s framework. Therefore, the only legal way for me to secure extra funds is through donations. I am currently raising funds to pursue a life-changing opportunity: applying for a Working Holiday visa to Australia. This visa will allow me to work and study in a new country, serving as a critical step toward building a better future for myself and my family.

I am seeking to raise $6,000 USD to cover the necessary costs for this transition. These expenses include:
• Visa application fee: $404 USD
• Travel insurance: $400 USD
• Initial monthly living expenses in Australia (housing, food, transportation, and extras): Approximately $1,100 USD
• Airfare: Between $1,000 and $1,500 USD
• Outstanding loan payment: $2,000 USD
• Additional expenses and savings for my remaining time in the United States and initial arrival in Australia.

While I have been donating plasma to earn extra income, this is not a sustainable long-term solution. This is why I am reaching out to ask for your support in helping me achieve this dream.

From a young age, I’ve had the opportunity to see the world from a broader perspective. At the age of 8, I moved to Italy with my mother, where I lived for nine years. During that time, I learned Italian, adapted to a new culture, and discovered the beauty of diversity. At 17, I returned to Ecuador, where I spent the last 10 years of my life. During this period, I completed high school, earned my university degree, and worked tirelessly to improve my circumstances. However, Ecuador’s economic, political, and social situation has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Rising crime, drug trafficking, and corruption have reached alarming levels, leading me to make the difficult decision to seek opportunities abroad.

I am a hardworking, dedicated, and resilient person. I speak three languages (Spanish, Italian, and English) and firmly believe that any honest job is dignified. My goal is not only to improve my quality of life but also to support my family in achieving a brighter future. I dream of going to Australia, where I can work, continue my education, and, through determination and effort, establish financial stability. Eventually, I hope to give my loved ones the opportunity to leave Ecuador if they so desire.

With your support, I can take this crucial step toward a future filled with opportunities. I deeply appreciate any contribution, big or small, and I promise that every dollar will go toward achieving this goal. Thank you for reading my story and for considering helping me on this journey.

Sincerely, Laura.
  • Australia

Updates

1

  • I Got My Working Holiday Visa!!!

    I got my Working Holiday visa!!!
    I applied to the Working Holiday visa to Australia and I got it!!! The happiness and joy I felt that day is inexplicable!! :)