Hello,

I don’t know how many people will come across my story, but even if just a few do, I will be grateful that you took the time to read and listen.

My name is Veska Nikolova. I was born and raised in a small country like Bulgaria, in an even smaller town—Silistra. I am only 20 years old, but life has already shown me how difficult and challenging it can be.

From a very young age, I realized that I was different from other children. I was always told, “Don’t run, don’t jump, don’t eat this, don’t eat that.” I was forbidden from playing outside with other kids so I wouldn’t see what they were doing and try to imitate them—all because I was sick. I have severe asthma, diabetes, and an elevated and deformed diaphragm that I never had the courage to operate on. In addition, I have heart problems and serious hormonal issues, and for years, I have struggled with the question of whether I would ever feel like a real woman. Recently, I was diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome.

Not only did I never get to experience what it’s like to play on the playground or attend kindergarten, but my parents also didn’t allow me to move away for education because they worry about me too much. I get sick often, and they cannot bear to be far from me, not knowing how I am. But I deeply want to be independent, to achieve something in this life, to feel significant and proud of myself. I am full of dreams, yet also full of disappointments.

My life has been spent in hospitals, from doctor to doctor, taking countless medications and undergoing endless tests. Sometimes, I feel like a test subject, but more than anything, I just want peace. I haven’t even listed all my illnesses because they are many, but that’s not the main reason I’m sharing my story.

One of the biggest challenges I face is that I never had the chance to study for a profession, nor can I take on jobs that require physical labor. In the town where I live, the only option for someone without education is to become a cleaner. I am not ashamed of honest work, but my health prevents me from handling cleaning agents, chemicals, or heavy tasks.

Recently, I decided to take a makeup artistry course. I have always had an interest in beauty and cosmetics, and I pursued it with passion. Thankfully, my parents were also at peace with my choice of profession. I successfully completed the course, but now comes the difficult part—how do I find the money to start my business?

No bank will grant me a loan because I have never worked before. I haven’t even applied for disability benefits because, truthfully, I don’t want to be labeled as a pensioner at just 20 years old. That title makes me feel even more sick, and all I want is to feel like a normal person—if only just a little.

I recently came across this platform and decided to share my story with you. I strongly believe that someone out there will understand how much I long to be independent. I don’t know how things work in other countries, but in Bulgaria, everything is extremely expensive. Starting from zero requires money that I simply don’t have, nor does my family, as we are not wealthy. I have no one to rely on.

I want to work with high-quality products and be a true professional in my field. I don’t want to offer services that won’t satisfy my clients. It would be easy to buy cheap products from Chinese websites and use them on people, but I refuse to do that. My business is not just about makeup—it requires registering a company, renting a space, furnishing it, and handling countless other expenses. It’s not as simple as it seems.

I have done my research. I have calculated the exact amount I need. I have searched for the best quality products at the most reasonable prices. I have even found the perfect furniture and planned out every step of my salon. But I don’t have the necessary funds.

To do this properly, I need 10,000 BGN to make my dream a reality. If my town were bigger, I would have started by working at an existing salon to gain experience. But here, such opportunities do not exist. And as you already understand, because of my parents’ concerns, I cannot simply move to another city.

This is why I am reaching out to you. Any support, no matter how small, brings me closer to the independence I have always dreamed of. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.