Support Dashan; International student facing hardship in Australia

Hi, I’m Dashan Kuruwitage, an international student in Australia, trying to follow my dream of becoming a qualified engineer. I came here full of hope, leaving behind my family and everything familiar, believing I’d be supported during my journey.

But recently, something painful happened.

Due to an unfair and heartbreaking situation with close relatives I trusted, I was forced to leave the only place I had to call home here. I didn’t cause conflict. I wasn’t a burden. I was simply trying to survive, balancing long night shifts with an intense master’s program. Still, I was made to feel unwelcome and pushed out, without warning or kindness.

Now, I live by myself in a small rented room, and to survive, I work cleaning jobs through the night, every single night. I everyday return home at morning, exhausted, with no energy left to concentrate on my studies. Every single day has become a test of endurance. I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in weeks, but I refuse to give up on the education I’ve come so far to achieve.

This isn’t easy to share, but I’m reaching out because I’m struggling and I need your help. My course fees are AUD 18,080 per trimester, and I have 4 trimesters in total (2 years). My monthly rent is around AUD 1,000, excluding bills. I’m working as hard as I can to survive, but it’s simply not enough to cover everything, especially when I’m giving up my sleep and health just to keep up.

Any contribution you can make will help me cover my rent, pay my course fees, and take one step closer to stability. I don’t take this lightly. If you’re able to support me, even in a small way, it means more than words can say.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading this, and for standing beside someone who’s trying to hold on.

Warmly,
Dashan Kuruwitage