Rebuilding After Loss: Clearing My Debt and Rebuild my Life

Hello everyone,

My name is Timotheus Kashomba Iivula, and I’m reaching out during one of the most difficult periods of my life. In April 2024, I lost my mother, which turned my world upside down. With my family unable to cover the funeral expenses, I took out a loan from my scholarship provider to give her the dignity she deserved and to cover my travel costs from England to South Africa, where the funeral was held.

At the time, I was a first-year electrical and electronics engineering student at the University of York. I worked part-time as a cleaner to support myself, planning to repay the loan with my monthly wages. However, after the loss of my mother, the grief and upcoming exams made it impossible for me to continue working, and I eventually had to quit my job.

In an attempt to meet financial obligations, I borrowed money from friends. I was also required by my scholarship to do an unpaid internship, which I completed during the summer holidays in South Africa. Despite passing my first year, I found myself deeper in debt as my scholarship required repayment before renewing my scholarship(it’s an annual scholarship). Overwhelmed by the mounting financial pressure, I made the difficult decision to quit my scholarship entirely.

Since then, my debt has grown to £3000, with the deadline to resolve it approaching on 30 October 2024. My scholarship, friends, and even the police have been involved due to my inability to repay the loans. The weight of these circumstances has caused me tremendous stress and anxiety, and I am doing everything I can to make things right.

I am now focusing on building my photography, videography, and graphic design business, Vula Shots, as a way to support myself and my family. However, being a new business, I am still struggling to find clients and earn enough to pay back my debts in time.

That’s why I’m turning to you for help. Your support would allow me to pay off this debt, rebuild my life, and focus fully on growing my business and supporting my family, who are also struggling after the loss of our mother. Any amount would be deeply appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any help you can provide, whether it’s through a donation or simply sharing this campaign with others.

With gratitude,

Timotheus Iivula