Hi, I'm trying to raise funds to go to University in England this September. Tuition fees is £14,700 (roughly TT$147,000) and living expenses is £12,400 (roughly TT$124,000).

Update: I received a partial scholarship valued at roughly TT$20,000 from the university. See UPDATES section for details. As a result, I now need to raise TT$251,000. This can be achieved if TT$100. (approximately USD17 or GBP10) is donated by two thousand five hundred and ten people. This does not include the fees charged by this platform.

I'm hoping to raise enough money by June so that I can apply for a student visa within a reasonable time to allow me to start school. Any donation you can make will be appreciated. Thank you!

Edit: Today (April 30) a facebook friend who shared this campaign for me advised that I add more information about me because it looks like a scam even though it is not. That feedback reminded me that another person once told me I don't know how to beg (ask) for money because I don't like to add the "sobby" details and that's what reaches many people. It's true, I am not a fan of deliberately doing that. Having said that, I will add some details about me.

My name is Glendora Lashley. I am from Trinidad and Tobago, raised in Tobago, the smaller sister island. Our population is about 60,000 people and we are tourism dependent. Our main source of income is from the national budget annually. That allocation is roughly enough to cover goverment wages and a bit more, so basically many people live pay cheque to pay cheque and do not have quarter million dollars just laying around.

The experience of this reality caused me to, in 2009, start an NGO, The Lily Foundation for Human Development, focused on community and youth development, this after being involved in community work for several years prior starting at age 15.

Like many other places right now, Tobago is experiencing severe financial strain as the covid-19 pandemic bulldozed our previously hanging on a thread economy. This daily experience at this time influenced my application to Middlesex University in late March. (I figured I could try to get skilled in an area that Tobago needs improved human capacity and afterwards reconfigure my contribution to my island's sustainable development.) On April 11 the Regional Manager for Middlesex contacted me via phone saying I was accepted.

That conversation led me to ask about possible funding opportunities from the school and I was sent a link to apply for a regional award. Later on I got an email saying I was awarded some assistance (detailed above and in the updates section). On April 22, I reveived the correspondence advising that I got an unconditional offer and the scholarship.

This has been a quick situation but I am still hopeful that I can take up on the offer. In order to get a student visa, the UK government requires cash proof in my bank account that I can pay 100% of the fees. That stipulation is the reason for this fundraising attempt.

If you can help and do so I will be most grateful. Someone shared with me that this platform did not accept their debit card. If you need another way to donate, Western Union is possible or even bank transfer. Whichever is most convenient. I can be reached through the link at my name above. Thanks for any support.

Glendora.