Atoumane needs a home
Donation protected
We met Atoumane in 2010 when travelling through West Africa. My husband David and I stayed in St Louis in Senegal for 6 months and met Atoumane often around the town. We became good friends; inspired by his zest for life we spent Eid together at his house eating fried goat and Christmas at ours with roast chicken.
Please read the story below and then watch the film we made -Atoumane - YouTube ...which hopefully goes some of the way to show how special he is.
Atoumane; an inspirational, charismatic husband and father who dreams of a home for his family. His disability and the area's increasing terrorist threat has made earning a living near impossible. Yet he will never give up. Together, we can help him achieve his dream.
Atoumane developed polio at 6 years old and has been fighting to live a normal life ever since. Despite the polio, Atou has always worked, earned his way and provided for his family. He is fiercely independent.
He had operated a small tour business with his own 4x4 until the increased threat of Islamic terrorism in Northern Senegal and the neighbouring countries of Mali and Mauritania effectively ended tourism. As a result Atou and many people in the region have found it extremely difficult to earn a living. Traditional fishing and agriculture is just not possible for Atoumane.
Atoumane until recently was renting a small house in St Louis. After the tourism crash he had started to struggle financially even with our occasional help of monthly rent donations. Unfortunately in April the landlord eventually evicted him as wanted to renovate the house. Rather than rent another house and be in constant worry about how to pay the rent.... Atou has sold everything he owns (the 4x4, his goats and sheep) and has put the money towards buying his own home. He dreams of a place where he can feel secure with his family.
Atoumane has always been a positive force in his community. Together we have discussed ways of making sure that Atoumane's good fortune of these donations also benefits the wider community around him. Once the house is secure, Atou will use one of the rooms to help the handicapped community of St Louis. He may give the space over to a local charity or set up a small organisation himself. Various discussions are in progress and so i'll update the page with developments as they happen.
The Finances -
With Atou's grand sale he has raised almost £7000. With the house priced at £12,000, this is over half....
Cost of House =£12,000
Atoumane has raised =£6,700
Remaining to be raised =£5,300
2.5% Go Fund Me fees = £132.5
Currency fluctuation = £100
Total to raise = £5532.50
The cost of housing in St Louis is cheap compared to the areas where we all live. Yet as we all know, wherever you live, it can be difficult to find that last chunk of money that allows you to pay that deposit... to buy that house and to change your life.
£5500 will change Atoumane's life and help the local handicapped community of St Louis.
In July, Atou moved into his new home with a part payment from money he had raised. However remaining in the house is on the condition that the rest of the money is paid in €1000 instalments starting early September'18 ideally over 6 months. However I am behind on fundraising and have only managed to send two instalments so far.
I know we can do this and make an enormous difference to Atoumane's life. Please help me raise this money and help buy Atoumane a home.
Atoumane and his family - The two older daughters live with their husbands now and one of the younger children unfortunately died two years ago. So living at home is now Atou, Mama - his wife and three children.
Supporting information and documents below:
The house is close to where Atou already lives in St Louis so he can stay part of his community. See plot below.
The house has four rooms; a living room, bathroom and kitchen. They are all wheelchair accessible. See house layout below.
Please read the story below and then watch the film we made -Atoumane - YouTube ...which hopefully goes some of the way to show how special he is.
Atoumane; an inspirational, charismatic husband and father who dreams of a home for his family. His disability and the area's increasing terrorist threat has made earning a living near impossible. Yet he will never give up. Together, we can help him achieve his dream.
Atoumane developed polio at 6 years old and has been fighting to live a normal life ever since. Despite the polio, Atou has always worked, earned his way and provided for his family. He is fiercely independent.
He had operated a small tour business with his own 4x4 until the increased threat of Islamic terrorism in Northern Senegal and the neighbouring countries of Mali and Mauritania effectively ended tourism. As a result Atou and many people in the region have found it extremely difficult to earn a living. Traditional fishing and agriculture is just not possible for Atoumane.
Atoumane until recently was renting a small house in St Louis. After the tourism crash he had started to struggle financially even with our occasional help of monthly rent donations. Unfortunately in April the landlord eventually evicted him as wanted to renovate the house. Rather than rent another house and be in constant worry about how to pay the rent.... Atou has sold everything he owns (the 4x4, his goats and sheep) and has put the money towards buying his own home. He dreams of a place where he can feel secure with his family.
Atoumane has always been a positive force in his community. Together we have discussed ways of making sure that Atoumane's good fortune of these donations also benefits the wider community around him. Once the house is secure, Atou will use one of the rooms to help the handicapped community of St Louis. He may give the space over to a local charity or set up a small organisation himself. Various discussions are in progress and so i'll update the page with developments as they happen.
The Finances -
With Atou's grand sale he has raised almost £7000. With the house priced at £12,000, this is over half....
Cost of House =£12,000
Atoumane has raised =£6,700
Remaining to be raised =£5,300
2.5% Go Fund Me fees = £132.5
Currency fluctuation = £100
Total to raise = £5532.50
The cost of housing in St Louis is cheap compared to the areas where we all live. Yet as we all know, wherever you live, it can be difficult to find that last chunk of money that allows you to pay that deposit... to buy that house and to change your life.
£5500 will change Atoumane's life and help the local handicapped community of St Louis.
In July, Atou moved into his new home with a part payment from money he had raised. However remaining in the house is on the condition that the rest of the money is paid in €1000 instalments starting early September'18 ideally over 6 months. However I am behind on fundraising and have only managed to send two instalments so far.
I know we can do this and make an enormous difference to Atoumane's life. Please help me raise this money and help buy Atoumane a home.
Atoumane and his family - The two older daughters live with their husbands now and one of the younger children unfortunately died two years ago. So living at home is now Atou, Mama - his wife and three children. Supporting information and documents below:
The house is close to where Atou already lives in St Louis so he can stay part of his community. See plot below.
The house has four rooms; a living room, bathroom and kitchen. They are all wheelchair accessible. See house layout below.
Organizer
Tara Watney
Organizer
