Dear Reader,
I hope that this letter finds you well.
My name is Roselyne and I’m a French painter and teacher in Art and Art History.
English is not my native language and I apologize in advance for any mistake in the following lines.
My goal in life has always been to show people, especially children and teenagers, the beauty of our world through the lense of Art. I’m passionate about Art and all civilizations, past and present, their achievements, their knowledge. Nothing makes me happier than making people discover new evidence of human ingenuity. In a world laced by violence, I believe that connecting people with their roots and with others civilizations through Art is meaningful. That’s my duty, at my small level.
Sadly, my dream was destroyed by a man, who had the power to change my life for the worst.
I moved far from my home to start a new teaching position in 2020 and this man, who was an inspector, as soon as he knew I was here, even before meeting me in person, hated me. He refused to see me as he was supposed to do, arguing that he had no time for that. I was too passionate maybe, too different, not fitting the little box he wanted to see me in. I had excellent records and a PhD in Art History. Maybe he was jealous of that and of my success with my students. I don’t know. What I know is that for a whole year, he made my professional life a living hell. Because after he refused to meet me as it was the rule, my boss had to request the help of the Minister of Education’s Office. And the inspector was forced to meet me. He didn’t like that. Not at all. He humiliated me and bullied me multiple times, even in front of my students. Nobody could do anything, not my boss, not even the inspector’s boss. Everybody feared him because he was politically protected. He finally told me after a whole year of humiliation that he could not allow me to teach again. And that was it. I could not do anything, even if I wanted to sue him for moral harassment and abuse of power. The other teachers, all of them women, who were bullied by this horrible man, refused to sue him with me because they were afraid. And in the end, I did nothing. I was alone. And lost.
I lost my job. The parents of my students started a petition for me. It was useless.
I lost my job even if I was one of the only teachers working online with my students during the pandemic, even if I was one of the only teachers present in the school just after the last lockdown.
This was a tragedy for me, because he made it clear that I could not teach again in the north east of France. And I had no money left to move again somewhere else. Because of this man, I had to refuse two full-time jobs in the area. To refuse work is absolutely horrible when you are desperately in need for money. And I was.
I fell into a deep depression, with suicidal thoughts. I could not reopen my studio because I had no place to open it, I could not afford to pay for that. And so my students, who were so eager to learn, to create, could not continue with me outside school. The few teaching lessons I gave at home were not enough to live.
My bills started to pill up, my rent was not paid in time, then not at all. I was not even opening the mail, I was completely alone and could not manage anything as basic as that. I tried to open a studio in partnership with the city but ultimately, the mayor refused to help, even just to provide a place for it. Out of despair, I tried to kill myself. All around me, I could see my books, Art History books, everywhere in my apartment, piles and piles of precious books I was sometimes offering as gift to my students when I still had my job. These books were the reminder of my failure.
For months, because of my depression, I was unable to find a job. But I’m not a quitter and so I finally decided to fight back. I could not let this man win so easily. I wanted my life back! So I tried hard to find a job, even not related to my field, but it was never working. I opened a small online shop, but my sales were, and still are, just anecdotal. I can’t live from this source of income.
Today, I’m facing eviction. My power will be cut in the next few days, it’s imminent. My water supply will be cut too. And my internet connection, which means that I will not be able to continue my small online shop. Still, I have found a new teaching position, and I’m working again since september 1st, but because of an administrative issue, I will not get paid before end of November (if I’m lucky). It’s France, and the teachers under contract are often facing this kind of problem when they start a new position. So I work, full-time, and since I don’t have any paycheck yet, I have to take the train without a ticket just to go to work. Everyday. Praying for not to be caught.
This is so humiliating.
I work hard and have to wait for my paycheck, not even having a signed contract yet. I don’t know what to do right now else than asking you to help me survive this ordeal. I desperately need your help in order to pay my bills and stop the eviction process. How could I teach if I’m homeless? I don’t even have a car to live in. And what will happen to my precious library? I have nowhere to store it.
My dream is to reopen my studio and teach again in that place. I’m working hard in order to make it happen but I truly need help, just to eat and not be homeless in the next days. Just to keep my apartment and save my books and paintings.
I ideally need 8000 dollars to pay my back rent (3600 dollars) and bills (2000), and to wait for my first paycheck, not being sure when it will come .
If you want to see any document, my eviction notice, my bills, my back rent, of course, I can show them to you. You can reach me at: neferouptah@gmail.com. Do not hesitate to contact me.
For now, please, I beg you, help me. Any help is welcome. Your kind contribution will make a huge difference for me and I hope to be able soon to help people in need too.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter. May you all be blessed.
Sincerely yours,
Roselyne