Change of Career and a better life

Hi, my name is Marloes Sonke.

I was brought up in a small country in Africa, called Malawi.

At the age of 20, I went to South Africa to study Design and brand communications. And, I worked in South Africa. I had to return home to Malawi in 2010 after being robbed at gunpoint in Johannesburg. The crime was traumatic and I could not live there anymore.

I have worked as a Graphic Designer since returning home. The graphic design industry in Malawi does not provide well financially, especially since the country has suffered so many losses. Malawi is now one of the poorest countries in the world with many problems. It is a real struggle to live here. I have tried to work internationally, but this is also proving to be unstable as the forex situation in the country has proved a lot of problems for us all. And, most of the time there are another 100 international designers bidding to win a project, then you find you have wasted 3 days work and not winning. You lose money and time. Our family has been waiting for payments from clients for many years now, we have had to seek lawyers advice, but nothing is coming. We are in trouble.

I am also a single mother supporting two children who need a better future. I sold all the things I had to be able to fly to Holland in 2018 in the hope I could provide a better future for the children. This did not work. Holland has a lack of living space. As a holder of Dutch passports we were welcomed and given basic social welfare upon induction, and training to be integrated into that society. This went extremely well. But, we could not get a home. We stayed in a caravan in my sisters garden. The government couldn't help us as we did not fit in one of their conditions to be declared as urgent for social welfare homes. The waiting list for a social welfare home in Rotterdam is 5-7 years. Eventually, the government came to the caravan and ordered us to leave as they said it was illegal to stay in a caravan with children. Our only option left was to go and stay with the refugees in the camps. By the time this came I went from 65 kg to 45kg in 5 months from the stress of trying to relocate. So I had no choice but to return home to Africa, where I knew we had a home, and a roof over our heads. We returned home with no money, and we had lost everything. We had to restart life again.

I have tried everything and anything to provide a better life. And, I have not given up yet.

I decided to pursue a change of career. This change has so many benefits to our lives that I decided to go for it. It is also exactly what I want to do, and it will change our lives forever.

I am now in the 3rd month of an online course through UK to become a teacher in Art and Design. I am practicing at a high school now. I was expecting a payment from my business, but this has failed. And, now I am unable to pay for this course. I am desperately asking for help. If I cannot pay these fees, I will not be able to carry on with this course. And, I am doing so well already. It will be a real shame if I cannot go forth with this, as it really is our only hope.

If you can help us, you will change our lives forever.

This will not only affect my life and the children. But, also all the people we will be able to employ and the Malawians who rely on us for business and growth.