repairing burnt apartment
repairing burnt apartment
repairing burnt apartment
repairing burnt apartment
repairing burnt apartment
This campaign is closed
repairing burnt apartment
Hi everybody!
Just wanted to say a few words about who we actually are. My name is Seva and two friends of mine are Dima and Karina. We all are 20 years old and came from different Russian cities. Our story starts on the 27th of August 2013, when a plane full of brand new repatriates landed in Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv, Israel. We all had different reasons for choosing a tough path of leaving our families, friends and the city we loved with all our hearts and move to the Holy Land for good. So, according to the repatriation programme we all move into a hostel in one of the small northern Israeli towns and start our preparation for university assessments, our course in Hebrew and that sort of stuff. At first it didn't fell like it was much fun. Well, you can imagine, everything starts from the big zero: the language, people, climate, uncertainties of the future. That's bearing in mind that we actually moved from a big city to a village. But we got used to it with time. Started travelling around Israel, meeting new people, cities and towns, getting used to the mentality, the culture. Well, to be honest, that year flew by in a blink of an eye. So, the programme finishes. We receive the citizenship, bank accounts and, of course, a letter inviting us to join Israel defense forces . So, there are few months before the start of the army service, it's time to leave the hostel and look for a flat. Me, Dima and Karina decided to get a flat together. All of us decided that The flat had to be in Tel Aviv. If you heard about this place, you know what we mean when we say that the rent here is extortionate compared to any other place in Israel. So, after couple of months intense flat hunting we manage to find a 3-room flat with a more of less decent rent. One disadvantage was the absence of furniture – but we thought, we'd manage that ourselves. So there was another tough period when we barely had enough money from social security to survive, let alone buying new furniture. Then followed month or two of dirty, hard work, hot Israeli summer, consumption of questionable cheap ready meals and sleeping on a floor in an empty apartment. But as time went by, the flat started to look more and more like home. Here are some photos – the results of our efforts -
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.16405...
. Then we had to start the army service, and the things were looking up. We are nearly there now, close to tell exactly why we actually asking for your help.
Dima's story: Well, it was the end of February, the 16th. It was still cold at nights then, so I was sleeping with an electric blanket (which was obviously plugged in). Don't tell me that I'm an idiot – believe me I know by now... So, Half past three in the morning I woke up from a unknown bitter horrible smell. Half asleep, I get up, open the window and leave the bedroom to get some air. When I open the door 5 minutes later, it instantly becomes clear where the smell is coming from. Fire scolded me all over. The whole room was on fire. Well, then fire brigade come, I was taken to the hospital, there was police, questioning, etcetera, etcetera.
Well, as for me I find out about the whole thing next day from while in the army. I come home and find one room burnt down completely: all the furniture, the computer, clothes, the camera, the phone, the tablet. The walls and the floor are bare concrete. The rest of the flat is destroyed and covered in a thick layer of cinder, which means that the rest of the furniture is now unusable. No gas or electric in the flat as well, obviously. Here is what it looked like right after the fire -
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.16405...
Since then all three of us live separately with different friends and are trying to find the solution to this problem. The main goal is not to let it go to the court. Which actually will happen as soon as the
rent agreement comes to its end. This will be THE big day. The point to this story is that with the help of solicitors we now know that there is no way of avoiding the payment for the damage. And the sum that will be required is $30,000. There are many organisations which aim to help young soldiers without parents as well as newly repatriates, but none of them could offer this kind of money. We have tried all possible ways to find help. The only thing left is to ask you guys. I don't know what can we offer you back, but all of you are always welcome to come visit Israel, we'll certainly arrange you place to stay and nice company to spend time with. Thank you for listening guys. And thank you for your help.