My name is Victoria Maruhina (Hincu), and this is my story—a journey of resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to creating change. It is a story that has shaped my vision for the VMTcoin and VM Foundation DAO, a movement dedicated to addressing homelessness, corruption, bullying, and inefficiencies within support systems.
A Life Shaped by Struggles and Strength
At the age of 24, I made the bold decision to migrate to Ireland with my family. I found myself as a single mother of two young children—a newborn and a toddler, after the divorce.
As the sole provider for my family, I worked tirelessly to build a new life in a foreign country. I have been living in Ireland for 25 years and am an Irish citizen. Like many others who immigrated from their homelands and found a new home elsewhere, I, a Moldovan by birth and Russian by heritage, have grown to embrace Ireland as my new home—a country I am proud to call home.
In Ireland, I balanced my professional pursuits with the challenges of raising my children alone. I worked as a freelance interpreter, specialising in immigration, asylum seekers, and refugees, and even opened an agency in this field, which I later closed. Eventually, I launched a wholesale business importing Moldovan wines and spirits under my brand, V&P Irish Line (which stands for VIP Irish Line Drinks, symbolising high quality). The brand was designed by me at Riga Airport, later drafted in graphics in Moldova, and finalised by a student in Ireland. It was called Irish Line because I intended to eventually produce the spirits in Ireland, particularly focusing on herbal drinks and therapeutical extracts, liquors.
The brand was later rebranded to Vittora, inspired by my family’s long-standing winemaking traditions. Despite these achievements, the road was anything but easy. I faced bullying in business, cultural isolation, and the heavy burden of being completely alone in a foreign land. I had people walking into my house, threatening me, making phone calls, and demanding to handle my business to them. I say this loud and clear: every piece of documentation, from company registration to under-bond licenses, contracts, production, sales, label designs, logo design, and logistics, was done solely by me with my own money and I will never give my hard work to anyone, no matter what. By personality I am: the more you corner me the more stubborn and determined I become.
However, when I sought help, including from the Gardaí, nothing was done. It was unpleasant for everyone to hear that I was being bullied and that my hard work was being undermined because I was vulnerable in a foreign country. They better turned their eyes away. I was told, "Who the fuck do you think you are to open such a business in our country?" No one helped; everyone turned their faces away. I faced it all alone. Yet, I kept my head high, determined to succeed. While others my age were going to discos and bars, I was juggling work, education and raising my children. I decided to put it all behind me and move on. I accepted that I was alone, a foreigner with no heavy backup, no one to stand up for me and no support from the State. So, I closed the company. I created, and I destroyed it. I wasnt let to trade anyway. To cope with life’s challenges, I turned to my passions—aromatherapy, herbalism, and handcrafted cosmetics through Toria. What began as a hobby brought joy to others, and I hoped to transform it into a business. After an amazing marketing campaign, I sought financial support from a local enterprise but was told to close down, as this can be done by an Irish girl. I decided to keep the company open, build up my finances, and reopen. Unfortunately, the pandemic and financial challenges brought my progress to a halt.
The Unthinkable: Becoming Homeless
Life took a devastating turn when I became homeless for the first time in my life. Unable to secure assistance from the State (I was refused and ignored), I was forced to leave my rented house. For four months during the coldest time of the year, I lived in my car with my two loyal dogs, Charlie and Bella. The Gardaí from Lucan, Dublin, often watched over us, offering a semblance of safety. I will always be thankfull to these Gardai from Lucan Garda station that were watching us every night. I was able to have a bit of sleep knowing that they are coming around few times per night and doing rounds around the car or talking to me if I was awake. There are good people too, that havent lost their humanity. Eventually, I found temporary accommodation in the North that accepted dogs.
However, I was constantly sick, suffering from bilateral pneumonia and deteriorating health as a result of my "car life" and results of heavy sickness during pandemic. When I sought to return to Dublin for better work opportunities, I faced insurmountable challenges in finding a home that would allow me to keep my dogs.
These faithful companions, whom I’ve had since they were 5 and 6 weeks old and who are now 10 and 11 years old, have been my source of strength through every hardship. They are family. Pet owners will understand why I couldn’t part with them, even if it would have made my situation easier to resolve.
Finally, I found a room in Dublin, Baldoyle, but my hope turned to despair when I unknowingly ended up sharing a house with the wrong people. I faced corruption and bullying once more. I was told again that I was just a foreigner with "no rights." Well, the words that have been used were much harsher. After an unlawful physical eviction, I went to the Gardaí to make a statement, but I was refused with the words, "You shouldn’t have been here in the first place." I questioned the Gardaí, "Paying almost €1,000 per month for a room is okay, but when it comes to my rights being protected, apparently I have none and shouldn’t even be here, despite being a citizen?" I would like to ask the Government: If you know that you have housing issues in the country and people are forced to rent rooms, why is there no legislation in place to protect them? People paying half their salary for a room have a right to be legally protected. I sought help from the RTB, Threshold, Gardaí, and IRES (landlord of the property), but I was told by all of them that I was not legally protected and was just ignored in my pleed. On the day of the incident, the Gardaí, despite being called five times, refused to come. There was property damage, trespassing, physical and verbal abuse, and defamation. All of this happened because I asked when my lease would be ready or at least to get something saying that I live in that house. No one responded to help, including the landlord of the property, who was aware that I was renting the room from the beginning from their tenant. Once again, I became homeless, living in my car for the past year without any support from State Departments or organizations that are supposed to provide assistance during such hardships.
The Flaws in the System
This journey exposed the inefficiencies, corruption, and nepotism within Ireland’s support systems. As a registered homeless individual, I received no meaningful assistance. I was totally ignored. Bureaucratic hurdles, compounded by the judgmental attitudes of those tasked with helping the vulnerable, made it nearly impossible to find a way forward. Despite writing to all the TDs and Senators within the Oireachtas list, the Housing Minister, the Taoiseach, and the Tánaiste, things have hardly moved. Homelessness is more than the absence of a home; it is a profoundly emotional and psychological experience.
VMTcoin: Empowering Real Lives
The stereotypes surrounding homelessness often overshadow the diverse realities people face. Contrary to these assumptions, I do not smoke (I’ve never tried), use drugs (I’ve never even tried), or drink (I have an allergic reaction to alcohol, a glass for me is maximum). I am a very health-conscious and well-informed person; I never use anything that could harm me, either externally or internally. My struggles are not tied to addiction, as is often assumed when discussing homelessness, but to systemic failings, corruption, and bullying, nepotism that can affect anyone.
After all my experiences with homelessness in Ireland, I have concluded that the growing homelessness problem is not solely due to "the housing crisis we have." The core issue lies in the human factor—a problem that no one seems to talk about. Perhaps the Irish are afraid, considering those who make decisions on their cases to be akin to Gods (wrong evaluation).
Foreigners, meanwhile, see themselves as foreigners (not to be mistaken with recent immigrants; I question this as well). I understand this perspective, and I understand the atmosphere in Ireland, but I see things differently. I believe in God—the one true God—but He does not walk the Earth and has no human flesh, at least not at present. So, everyone else is just a clerk that can be left jobless just like me. And as for me, I have nothing left to lose; everything was taken from me already.
There was something else that made me angry, which I consider corruption and racism. One evening, my eldest daughter was driving home from work. At the Adamstown roundabout, she stopped to enter it. At full speed, another SUV crashed into my daughter’s car from behind, completely smashing it and rendering it irreparable, with the axle dislodged. My daughter survived because she is very slim and only 1.54 meters tall. She lost consciousness, and the car rolled over into the roundabout. Luckily, at 7 p.m., there weren’t many cars that could have hit her. The woman who crashed into my daughter’s car approached the window and knocked until my daughter regained consciousness. She told my daughter that she should have had the handbrake on, so the car wouldn’t have rolled into the roundabout. I say, thank God the handbrake wasn’t on; otherwise, I would be visiting a grave now. However, the woman didn’t call an ambulance or the Gardaí; she fled the scene, leaving my daughter injured in the middle of the roundabout. My daughter saw that she worked for Pfizer, just like my daughter, because of her badge. However, my daughter didn’t want me to get involved. I watched from the sidelines. When the court date came, my daughter’s barrister put psychological pressure on her, bringing her to tears and forcing her to sign a deal she didn’t want to and walk away in tears. There was no court. My daughter’s barrister insisted that they leave without standing in front of the judge, claiming that a broken spine in three- four places and neck injuries were not a good enough reason to claim injuries or medical expenses. That the woman that made a hit and run, leaving my daughter lying in the middle of the roundabout is not worth standing in front of the judge in this case. The barrister’s exact words were, "You went back to work after a while, so you’re not so bad." Yes, my daughter worked because I raised her on my own. I divorced, didn’t remarry, and didn’t have boyfriends to support me. So, we all worked no matter the pain or illnesses we faced. Now, I should have been in my house with a good income if I had been left alone in my work in the first place, and my daughter wouldn’t have had to work after the accident. I will say this is another case of corruption and racism. My daughter came home that day in tears, left her job, and left the country, saying, "Mum, they hate us." I will say that if justice existed and the law worked, the mentioned barrister should never practice law again and should lose their license for malpractice, unprofessionalism, and psychological pressure she put on my daughter bringing her to tears. The woman who smashed my daughter’s car and broke her spine should face jail time and lose her driving privileges. Both should be charged with corruption.
That’s why I decided to go public and talk about the things that no one else does. My daughter’s case and my rental experience in Baldoyle made me so angry, seeing how with a phone call to each other they are covering the wrongdoing only because we are not of same blood, that I decided to speak out about everything. When you deal with a problem alone, you aren’t heard, but spreading the word internationally should attract the right people and organisations, including pets rights organisations. Ireland is corrupted, no justice here especially when you deal with those in power.
When a human being faces a problem, their normal routine changes, and struggles appear.
That person usually looks for someone to blame. During the 2007 recession, foreigners were blamed. Now, we face the same challenges. I guess the atmosphere is being artificially inflated. How about questioning the institutions that are meant to deal with these issues and accepting their inefficiency? Questioning people within these institutions? How about reorganising, reforming? How about rising together to make changes instead of looking for someone to blame? I was working, till I was dismissed so to close my mouth regarding the case in Baldoyle and to redraw my statement.
Despite my experiences and knowledge, after regaining my health, I took the first position that was offered to me. My salary was less than the rent for a one-bedroom apartment on the market (which is disgraceful given these prices). Question: Who are the landlords and why are prices so high? It’s not foreigners/migrants who own these properties or bring laws into effect.
Taking into consideration all that I have gone through in Ireland over the last 25 years, I do not point fingers. There is always a black sheep in every country, and I was unfortunate to meet these "sheep" in my path. However, there are people whom I will always be thankful for, people who I owe enormously, who didn’t pass by when I first arrived in this country, who helped and supported me and never asked for anything in return. These are James Donegan and his wife, Diphna (hope I spell correctly). I am bad at saying thank you, bad at showing emotions of any kind. I always kept everything to myself, but to them, in my heart and soul, I will be thankful until the end of my days.
Despite all my challenges, I decided (as my mind always works) to create something different—a place where there is no discrimination based on nationality, country, gender, or anything else. A place where a person can express themselves, run a business, create wealth and live its life. I am speaking about blockchain and Web3.
A Vision for Change: The VMTcoin and VM Foundation DAO
My experiences inspired me to create the VMTcoin and VM Foundation DAO, a movement to address homelessness, bullying, and corruption, nepotism at their roots. A system to help people, that for whatever reasons are down in their life path, regain their dignity and be a part of a new era system.
These issues cannot be fully eradicated—the seeds are there—but at least we can clean our paths and help others. The cornerstone of this initiative is the All-in-One Hub (AO Hub), a centralised service platform that will provide support with housing needs, social welfare, and legal aid—all under one roof. This Hub will deal with State Departments and local authorities on behalf of individuals, so they won’t be shuffled from one department to another, repeating themselves with tons of paperwork. It will also provide legal assistance, standing up for human and citizen rights. This model eliminates fragmented bureaucracy (the system we have at present) and focuses on compassion, efficiency, and equal treatment for all.
The Social Club will also serve as a networking space for individuals and businesses dedicated to creating social change, fostering collaboration to amplify its impact, and supporting start-ups.
The VMTcoin will be used as an utility token that is the core of this ecosystem. (see details of the entire structure in the Whitepaper)
A Movement for Ireland and Beyond
The VMTcoin and VM Foundation DAO is more than a personal endeavor at this stage; it is a global movement. My goal is to build a team of compassionate professionals free from nepotism and judgment, empowering individuals to regain their independence and dignity, and supporting businesses, no matter what they go through or when there is no one to turn to.
Not everyone has siblings working in high places or siblings at all, but everyone needs support. VM Foundation DAO will be mainly self-funded through multiple revenue streams, ensuring sustainability. To start, I offer digital products and VMTcoin. I designed NFTs based on the physical products I created (my business: Vittora and Toria).
VMTcoin was created to raise funds and act as a token within the VM Foundation DAO ecosystem. I will be seeking a Board of Directors: professionals in the fields of homelessness, housing, social welfare support, human rights, marketing, legal, IT, etc., to help lay the foundation for this initiative and create a community that supports both people and pets in distress and in business.
Join the Movement
This is not just my story—it is a call to action. It is a story of many who do not dare to speak and be heard, who like me keep all in their heart afraid to talk. This is not just about Ireland, it is about lives all over the world. Homelessness, corruption, inefficiency, and professional negligence are not insurmountable challenges. With the right people and the right approach, we can create meaningful change. It is time for it. As a community we are much stronger. Together, we can build a future where everyone has the support they need to thrive. If my story resonates with you, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn or by email: maruhinavictoria@gmail.com, or WhatsApp: +353 83 439 2609, and join this movement. I also call on politicians to participate in this movement—those who recognise the need for systemic change and compassionate support for individuals and their families (pets included) who are facing hardship and those in business.
VMTcoin: Empowering Real Lives
I do not make a difference between skin colour, language, religion, gender, etc…I accept every person that has principles and life values that align with higher self – to be a part of a system that improves lives and do not create haterage. I cannot go into many details that I went through but somehow, I would like to say Thank You to everyone who was a part of this journey in my life. It made me stronger, it made me proud of myself that I could go through and face it with dignity, it couldn’t make me hate those who did bad. The last but not the least, I would’ve never learn to create NFTs, learn Blockchain and learn all related to currency creation and design, tokenomics, etc: I would’ve never had the idea of the VM Foundation DAO and VMTcoin born if not those that tried to kneel me down. Thank You- you made me Better and more skilled and knowledgeable than I used to be. You also thought me how to say NO and face the likes of You.
Let’s make changes so our society can improve.
I do not understand why a person with pets cannot be accepted for help as a homeless individual. I wasn’t. Why are pets treated as if they are disposable? Same goes for children in Ireland. I stay in my car because I didn’t want to abandon my dogs. Maybe it sounds crazy, but everyone has their own principles. I consider them family, and I do not leave family members behind in a storm. Life is unpredictable, so we need to learn how to face it, not run from it or abandon those who are dear to us and give us strength. I am building this while sleeping in my car with two dogs: Charlie & Bella – they became the mascots for loyalty and resilience for me.
For years I refused my youngest child’s request for a dog, knowing that I didn’t have the time or energy a pet requires. But when I finally brought one into our house, they became family. And once they are family they stay for life. Landlords need to understand this. The law should reflect it too.
Without my dogs I am not sure I would have had the strength to endure all I have been through. They grounded me, gave me a purpose, helped me escape through walks and plays, cuddles and gave me peace when I needed the most. Pets-of any kind-offer emotional connection and psychological support that no system can replace.
All the work done with NFTs, VMTcoin, the website, social pages, posts, designs, product designs and labels, books, etc., has been done solely by myself, on my own, and it is copyrighted, including the idea of the VM Foundation DAO and VMTcoin.
I hope to be heard. I hope to be understood and to be supported in my endeavour.
If I sound harsh at times, it is not from anger- it is from truth. I have met both good and bad people along the journey, but my story is above all, about Changes. Change that’s starts with me and I offer it to others, so together we can make some changes in our society on the global scale. Together, we can build a future where everyone has the support they need to thrive and feel humans.
Victoria Maruhina
