Story

My name is Chanaka Wataraka, and I am a Sri Lankan citizen currently residing in Sweden with my wife and our 4-year-old daughter. We came to Sweden so that my wife could pursue her higher education. She is a dedicated academic and was a university lecturer  in Sri Lanka.

Since our arrival, it has been extremely difficult to find stable employment. I am currently working a part-time job, but the income I receive is insufficient to cover our family’s monthly expenses. As a result, my wife’s studies are being significantly affected, as she is forced to also look for work to help support our family. This dual burden is taking a toll on her mental well-being, and her ability to focus on her studies has been deeply compromised.

Our situation has become increasingly dire. We are now struggling even to provide basic necessities for our daughter. Currently, we are unable to pay the full rent for our accommodation, and we are at risk of losing our housing. The monthly rent is SEK 10,300, which we cannot afford to pay this month due to me being offered only 8 days of work during April.

Returning to Sri Lanka is not an option for us right now. To finance her studies, we had to sell almost all our valuable possessions back home, including a portion of our land, a vehicle, and our gold jewelry. If my wife can successfully complete her studies, she will be able to find good employment here in Sweden, which would allow us to stabilize our life and provide a brighter future for our daughter.

We are not people who are used to asking for help, but in this moment, we find ourselves with no alternative. Our only dream is to secure a better life for our daughter. Therefore, with a heavy heart and utmost humility, I kindly request your support to help us cover this month’s rent of SEK 10,300.

Any assistance you are able to provide would be received with deep gratitude and would make a world of difference to our family during this very difficult time.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for considering our request.

Warm regards,

Chanaka Wataraka