Minimum wage rises by 3%!!!

People receiving the minimum wage could not be happier, I’m sure! 

When I was a waitress my mood would depend on how much I would get in tips. If it was less than £20 during a single shift I would always feel as though it was worthless coming to work. I live in zone 5 and worked in zone 1. My train fare would cost up to £15.80 including trains, buses or trams. If I got home late and the tram had stopped running and it was a Friday or Saturday- I would have to get a cab for £6. Otherwise I’d put myself at risk and have to walk for 20 mins to get home.

When travel expenses increase by 10% every year, food prices increase even more, not to mention bills and rent! How on earth one is supposed to survive on an extra 20p per hour?

Are you dreaming about having your own home? Maybe a dog too? How about a holiday to escape all the stress of trying to make your ends meet every single month? Wouldn’t you like to go to the gym and let all the frustrations out and come home all serene; make a healthy smoothie and have a healthy dinner? You would? Well, you can’t. Every one of these luxuries is out of your reach, even if you earn £10 per hour and live in Greater London. 

Stress that you experience daily will eventually make you depressed. If you are trying to avoid depression with every single brain cell knowing it will make it much worse by keeping positive, going for a jog or long walk, reading a book (you can’t really afford anything else)- fantastic! But for how long? I did all those things and a year later was diagnosed with severe IBS (pretty much sure it’s due to stress) and classic migraines with aura. Means I better follow FODMAP dietician’s advice or else live an uncomfortable life. Well.. I can’t be referred to a dietician. According to my GP, NHS cuts do not allow him to refer me. As a result I need to pay between £50 to £85 for a private one. I scrutinised all the online research available and created a diet plan for myself. The bummer is that healthy food costs much more than “normal” ranges. I literally can’t afford to have a sensitive stomach. Have you seen the prices of gluten free products?? Do take a look- it’ll blow your mind! Almost entertaining.

In 10 years I have never regretted moving to London, thinking that if I study here, if I work hard, if I put all the efforts possible- I will make a good living. I will enjoy my life. Bitter reality proved me wrong. I did all that and much, much more. This Christmas it will be 11 years since I've arrived here and I’m researching where I could take my youth, intellect and talents to be recognised and put to good use.

Sincerely,

G

Breaking News: Unemployment falls by 146,000. Who are the lucky ones to be included in the statistics???

I have a degree in Business Law and Marketing, 10 years of vast and diverse customer service experience. I have been volunteering with charities since 2011, have co-founded a charity in 2014 and we subsequently built a kindergarten in 3 months, but I still cannot find a job in the charity sector??? How could one explain this phenomena, when a young, vibrant, determined, interesting and educated person cannot find a job for a long time?? I see it as society's problem, not one man's problem. 

I have interests, and hobbies, I work long hours, I was running between two jobs for many months so that I would have income from something that I'm excellent at - customer service and to gain experience for the future career that I desire - Communications and Marketing. On two occasions I worked 60, sometimes 70 hours a week and still struggled to pay the bills and I placed myself in an extremely fragile financial situation. 
Now tell me, is this fair? 

My own charity aside, I'm wasting my brain and youthful energy. I am stressed all the time and it's not like I have money to visit my family or take a holiday to refresh and rejuvenate to continue the endless search for the job that I know I’d excel at. I'm registered with countless recruitment agencies and many of them haven't managed to put me forward for an interview. They say I have an amazing CV and that I can cherry pick what I would like to do as I have such varied experience and yet they are not the least bit interested why my profile is still active on their database. 

Sometimes I think there are many people in the same situation as I am but often it feels like I'm standing on the battle field all by myself. I'll be turning 30 early next year and I don't have a stable career or income and I'm far, far away from buying a house or starting a family  as I simply cannot afford it! However I’ve worked weekdays and weekends, early mornings and late nights. If that is not determination, devotion and hard work, then I truly don't know what is.  

Now I understated that with these publicly expressed thoughts and "attitudes" I may lose the slightest chance of getting a job, but join me, good people, who else feels the same way?? 

With kindest wishes,
Giedre

The job has been done!!!The skydive went amazingly well!!! Everyone is safe and happy. Although we felt a bit icky afterward... The craziest fun ride ever! All that swinging, up and down and around... :)

The fall itself.. what can I say... Scary! Exillarating! Manic! When you are in the mercy of the wind... you just give and enjoy literally every second! The speed was 130 miles per hour... Rather slow, don't you think? hehe

Thank you everyone who's supported me! You helped me raise £130!!! How wonderful is that?!
If someone would still like to add a pound or two I'd very much appreciate it!! It's not too late! It would help Grace Children's Village project speed up building classrooms.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=GiedreVasiljevaite&pageUrl=2

An update about the fund raising!

Dear Friends!

So far £50 or £62 including Gift Aid has been raised! Thank you to those who visited my blog, read about the cause and got touched! Your gifts are truly appreciated!! :-)
I'm excited that people are joining Grace Children's Village into this amazing project in Uganda!

7 DAYS LEFT TILL TANDEM JUMP!!!

I'm determined to raise £500! Every donation will go straight to the charity and will be used to extend the school with three more classrooms. Don't be shy, help buy windows, doors and bricks by donating on http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=GiedreVasiljevaite&pageUrl=2

Thank you and all the blessings!! 

Giedre xx

The school!!

Action Dave in action!

Grace Children's Village! Brickwork Windows Doors

Hello Dear Friends!!

It’s been awhile I’ve raised money for a special cause!

This time I’m doing something different, something scary, something exhilarating, something crazy and something I’ll have to take a life insurance for! J

Tandem Skydive was my dream when I was a child and has been one of my biggest nightmares since the day I've realised I’m terrified of heights!

I’ve known Action Dave for some time now and have learned the important work he does in Uganda! He is a co-founder of the Grace Children’s Village http://www.gracechildrensvillage.org/ project that focuses on poverty alleviation and opportunity creation! All of the workers in Uganda are locals and earn their own salary. How life changing is that?!

Since February 2012 around 150 children are being educated in the school and 16 adults are employed at the project. A plan to build THREE more ground floor classrooms is being executed: the roof slab of the ground floor is drying and I am fundraising for the brickwork, windows and doors!

Let’s build walls brick by brick! 

Let’s install doors so children can study in peace and quiet! 

Let’s put windows in so the birds don’t snatch their exercise books!  

Let’s give a gift of knowledge!  

I will create an event on Virgin Money Giving website so you can easily donate money for this awesome cause! 

An article about me on Oasis Global website :)

I was not expecting to find it there!! I didn't know that someone was writing about the trip to South Africa thus it was a pleasant surprise ;-)

By the way, the title accurately represents my true feelings :-) 

http://www.oasisglobal.org/announcements/passion-for-africa