I am writing on behalf of a truly remarkable woman, my dear friend, Andjela. For much of her life, Andjela has had to endure an uphill battle. She finally has the opportunity to secure the kind of future that many take for granted.
Born in Bosnia, she was only five years old when the Yugoslav Wars broke out. Not widely known in America, this was the most violent period in Europe since World War II, with over 100,000 people killed and 2,000,000 displaced from their homes. With a Croatian mother and Bosnian step-father (two opposed ethnicities), it was hard to find a place to call home. At age six, her mother made the tough choice to leave Andjela in the care of her grandparents on their farm in Zenica. Previously unaffected by the war, it was only a short time until soldiers broke into her grandparents’ home and violently forced them out. Andjela was transient for years, staying where it was safe and with whomever in her extended family could care for her.
Finally, the day came when was she reunited with her mother with the news that they were moving to America as war refugees. It had been 7 long years and Andjela was now 12 years old. What she witnessed, what she experienced during the war, with bombs flying overhead and people dying in front of her, would cause most people to give up on life. But not Andjela. She is an overcomer.
Operating as a hair stylist is only a means to an end, and at age 27, Andjela is finally ready to prioritize her education. In January, she was accepted into the Registered Nurse (RN) program at Pima College of Nursing. It offers an accelerated program and will allow Andjela to take classes year-round, becoming an RN in just over 22 months. Most scholarships available target recent high school graduates, and so far, she has had little luck in getting financial aid. The cost of Andjela’s education will total over $45,000. She must pay $10,000 out of pocket within the first year.
For all interested to help Andjela and donate can do so by clicking here.
ST
