It wasn't until Rosana Esposito was on the brink of poverty and homelessness that her dream of starting up a charity finally became a reality.
Relocating as a young woman from her home country of Venezuela to the Gold Coast in 2017, she was excited to start a new adventure.
"Every year things were getting worse and worse and I just didn't see a future there [in Venezuela], not at all," Rosana says.
The move was a big culture shock.
She wasn't used to the easy accessibility of basic necessities, or living in an environment not plagued by violent crime.
"When I left Venezuela, we didn't even have toothpaste [or] shampoo. We didn't have soap, we didn't have toilet paper."
And her family had been luckier than most — they were part of a small minority of Venezuelans living above the poverty line.
For this reason, they wanted to help those around them create a better life.
But things didn't quite go to plan for Rosana.
The pandemic changed everything
Like many Australians at the onset of the pandemic, she suddenly lost her job.
Struggling to make ends meet and on the brink of homelessness on the Gold Coast, she found that she wasn't eligible for government benefits.
But there were kindnesses all around her.
She is acutely aware of how this generosity saved her.
Through her own struggles, Rosana found inspiration
At this point, Rosana had a roof over her head but no means to feed herself.
And that's when she found the answer to her problems in an unlikely place — the bottom of a rubbish bin.
As she began riding her pushbike along the streets, she found she could collect a haul of 10-cent recyclable containers.
And they weren't just in the bins. They were also on the beach and the road.
By recycling the bottles at her local depot, Rosana typically earned $30 to $40 each week, which helped cover her weekly bill for basic food items such as rice, tuna and pasta.
Rosana wanted to help others, too
Rosana's story ends well.
She found a new job as a chef once restrictions eased, allowing her to finally get back on her feet.
But she wanted to give back to the community she had left behind.
Political upheaval has led to the deterioration of many Venezuelans' quality of life, with hyperinflation rendering salaries almost worthless.
Shortages of food and medical supplies are common, and water is hard to come by.
So Rosana has continued recycling the bottles to help struggling communities in her home country.
She says that since the pandemic, she's been particularly worried about the welfare of children in Venezuela.
She says her charity, People For People, strives to "show [children] that there are people who care".
The power of a 10-cent container
Rosana's mission to raise funds for Venezuela grew with the help of her friends, who would keep bottles and cans aside for her to collect in her spare time.
Then, she started reaching out to local cafes, restaurants and bars. Several businesses were eager to help.
John Lance, who owns Parlour Coffee in Burleigh Heads, even convinced his parents and neighbours to get on board.
"We save all our bottles here from the cafe every day, and I save all mine from home," he says.
Rosana recently bought her own car.
She now drives to the homes of friends and businesses, collecting the bottles and sending the funds directly to her mother Isabel, back home in Venezuela.
Isabel then uses the money to purchase basic food items, including rice, beans, eggs and vegetables, to make grocery bags that she donates to struggling families in their local community of Valera.
The money Rosana raises goes a long way in the impoverished community, given the minimum monthly wage across Venezuela since May 2021 has been 10 million bolivars, equivalent to about $30.25.
Last year, Rosana and her mother initiated water projects across the state of Trujillo. Most Venezuelans do not have access to running water and instead must collect rainwater with tanks.
One remote community with more than 50 families had run out of water because it had not rained for over 40 days, so Rosana and Isabel hired a truck to deliver some.
"In this community they just pray for water. They only wash their clothes and take showers when it rains," she says.
With $60 Rosana raised by recycling bottles and cans, People For People was able to provide the community with 80,000 litres of water.
And by helping parents put food on the table for their family, and ensuring people have access to clean water, the local children are more likely to continue their studies at school and make a better future for themselves.
Rosana's message to others is clear.
She wants everyone to know that you don't need loads of resources to help others. Sometimes motivation can take you further than you realise.
She's hoping to grow the charity and make a difference across the whole of Venezuela — not just in her local state.
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