A Chance Encounter, A Chance for Education

This fundraiser began with an unexpected message on Instagram. Ebrima, a young man from The Gambia, shared that he and his younger siblings are orphans living with their grandmother, and that they were struggling to afford food and school. At first, I felt unsure—wondering if I could trust the message or if helping from afar would truly make a difference. But in the end, I reminded myself: someone was reaching out for support, and I chose to listen.

I started by ordering groceries for the family through Terangas Gambia, and the difference was immediate. Now, Ebrima is asking for help with school fees. In The Gambia, nearly half the population lives below the poverty line, and many children miss out on education because families simply cannot pay. For this family, $800 NZD would cover school costs for all the siblings for an entire year, giving them the chance to learn, grow, and build a future.

My intention isn’t about being a saviour; it’s about answering a human request with humanity and doing what I can. I told Ebrima I’d set up a fundraiser to see if we can get his siblings back into school. The school year begins on September 26th, so the need is urgent. To help with transparency, Ebrima will also share interviews with his grandmother, siblings, and teachers from his village, which I’ll upload to YouTube so donors can see the people this campaign supports.