Support my legal battle for justice in the EU

My name is Maya and my employer fired me after I asked for a fair salary. I moved from my hometown in Bulgaria to Brussels for a leadership position in the EU and 4 months in the job I realised I am paid nearly 30% less on annual basis - both in comparison with the market average for the job and in comparison with what the previous director was making. Yes, for the same job. Yes, in the same organisation.

I was fired from my executive role without warning, without a negative performance review, and with no justification other than a "loss of trust" due to my persistent refusal to accept severe underpayment.

Even though my employer claimed to believe in equality and ethics they did not care that firing me like that means not only reputation damages, but also creates a family crisis as I moved to Belgium for this job with my 3 young children.

Since the beginning of 2024, I have filed a case with the Belgian courts, with a first-instance decision expected in 2025. My claim against my former employer is based on unlawful dismissal, gender pay-gap discrimination, and the resulting impact on my reputation and personal well-being. Unsurprisingly, this public ordeal has also taken a toll on my physical and mental health.

Pursuing this case requires not only resilience but also the financial resources necessary to support a lengthy legal battle for what I believe are our basic human and worker rights. I have dedicated my entire career to the field of human rights and inclusion, and it is a matter of principle for me to see this through to the end.

This is where I need your help. It has been more than difficult to find the necessary funds (over 20, 000 euro until now) to cover those bills and I know that I am not alone - this is why many people in my situation don't go to court at all. I want to succeed and I need your help in order to make stories like mine stories from the past.

Your support in addressing my legal and medical bills will enable me to continue this fight for equality for all of us.

And don't forget- "Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes".

Yours,

Maya