A look into Janet's family reality

DONATE HERO TOO

I met Janet through a social media platform, as is common these days. We had been talking on WhatsApp for about a month, and we decided to meet in person. On August 6, 2024 , we finally saw each other for the first time.

I always knew she was someone special. I remember she didn’t have the money for transportation, but I was very determined and convinced that I needed to meet her, so I paid for everything. She lives 1,500 kilometers away from where I live — very far.

At that time, she worked as a housekeeper. She worked 12 hours a day , earning only $325 a month . When I finally met her, I was surprised by her personality — so cheerful, full of life, and motivated to move forward. After we spent time together, she returned home, and we decided to continue our relationship.

We are very different — complete opposites — and I guess that’s part of what drew us to each other.

She told me her mother had diabetes, which immediately reminded me of my own father, who passed away a year and a half ago from the same illness. I was concerned, but she told me she was buying her mother’s medications and that everything was fine. But the truth is, I didn’t really know how she lived. I didn’t know where her house was or what conditions she was living in. Messages and a few photos didn’t show the full picture.

We saw each other a second time on October 5, 2024 , but this time I traveled to her city. She wanted me to meet her son and her mother. The trip took over a day by land . And when I arrived, I finally saw the reality of her life. That was what impacted me the most — it filled me with sorrow and sadness.

She even asked me if I felt disappointed in her. Of course, I told her no — not at all.

What worried me most was her mother’s condition. Her older sister traveled far to sell goods at the city market and came home very late. Janet worked as a live-in maid from Monday to Saturday and could only be with her family on Sundays. Her younger brother also had a job and already had a child. The youngest sister was the only one who stayed home to care for their mother. Her father worked every day to provide for the family. They live in the countryside, outside the city, and they have a small farm with guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, a horse, sheep, and a few cows. Everyone does their part to contribute to the household.

I was there for just one week, but that was enough to understand how hard life is for them.

From the beginning, I knew that the land they live on does not legally belong to them . It’s the only thing they have — but it’s not theirs. Janet always blames herself for not being there more for her mother, for not staying home, but she had to go out and work to support her son and her mother — who was her whole world.

Since her mother passed away, Janet has not been the same. It’s as if part of her died too. She’s no longer cheerful. She’s always sad. Not a single day goes by without her crying for her mother, and that hurts me deeply. She used to ask her mom, “Do you love me?” — and now, there’s no one left to hug her and say “I love you.”

It’s been five months since her mother passed, and since then, everything has gone downhill.

What worries me the most now is: where will they go if they lose the land they live on? The land is about 2,000 square meters , and based on my research, it could be worth between $150,000 and $200,000 USD . That is a completely unreachable amount for her family. It is simply impossible for them.

We talked about this once, and she told me she had spoken with the landowner. Apparently, things are calm for now, but the land is under legal dispute . Sooner or later, the day will come when they will have to leave. Maybe not in the next few months, but eventually it will happen — and that’s what truly worries me.

Where will they go? Unless they can buy at least a part of the land — but where would they ever get that kind of money? They’ve lived there for over 30 years . Janet was born there, as were all her siblings. But even now, they lack basic needs : there is no potable water (they use underground water), no official electricity installation (a neighbor shares power with them), and there’s no sewage system — just a deep hole in the ground.

This is why I decided to start this campaign — for my girlfriend’s family. Even a little bit can help.

This is not about me , it’s about them — her family. There are several people in need, all facing an uncertain future. That’s why I’m doing this: to ask for help, and to give them hope . Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a real difference .

I know it’s difficult to set an exact goal, because no number could ever fully cover what this family truly needs. I chose this amount as a guide , with the hope that it could be a first step toward helping them find stability and dignity.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading this story and for any kindness or support you can offer.