<div>Christogonus is a dedicated and talented aspiring educator who has worked tirelessly to build a future in the classroom. After earning his first degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he moved to the UK and completed a postgraduate teaching degree at the University of Worcester. Before arriving, he saved diligently, and during his studies he worked through agencies like Step-by-Step and The Best Connection to stay on track academically. He funded his education with money he had saved through tutoring before arriving in the UK.
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<div>He has now been offered a full-time teaching position in the UK—an important milestone and the culmination of years of effort, persistence, and resilience.
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<div>My name is Amanda, and I’ve had the privilege of mentoring Christogonus since we met through the Stone Edge All-Sky Survey research initiative—a program designed to support undergraduate scientists during the pandemic. Since then, I’ve watched him pursue his goals with extraordinary dedication. I’ve seen firsthand how deeply committed he is to becoming a teacher. He practiced interviews and job talks with me late into the night—even during power outages—always prepared and determined. I couldn’t be prouder of how far he’s come.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/92138103_1751991943428806_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>Caption: SEAS Survey Zoom meeting. Chris is in the second column, 4th from the top, with his camera on. (Credit: </em><a href="https://aas.org/posts/news/2021/04/stone-edge-all-sky-survey-addressing-undergraduate-research-experiences-during" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://aas.org/posts/news/2021/04/stone-edge-all-sky-survey-addressing-undergraduate-research-experiences-during" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://aas.org/posts/news/2021/04/stone-edge-all-sky-survey-addressing-undergraduate-research-experiences-during</a></a>)<em> </em>
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<div>While his new employer is covering part of the costs, including his Certificate of Sponsorship (£2,955), several key expenses remain:
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<li>Visa application fee – £800 (~$1,025)
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<li>Immigration Health Surcharge (2 years) – £2,070 (~$2,655)
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<li>Proof of funds required by UKVI – £1,250 (~$1,605)
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<li>Initial housing and relocation costs – ~£1,500 (~$1,925)
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<div>We are raising £5,500 (~$7,200) to help cover these remaining one-time costs.
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<div><strong>Funds are urgently needed by July 20</strong>
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<div>Due to a new UK immigration policy, visas issued after July 22 will no longer count toward the 5-year route to permanent residency. Missing this deadline would mean a 10-year wait instead.
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<div>While we’re aiming to raise funds by July 20 to meet the current immigration policy deadline, any support after that date is still deeply appreciated. Christogonus will continue working toward his visa and housing, and donations will still go directly toward those essential costs.
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<div><strong>How Funds Will Be Used</strong>
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<div>All funds raised will go directly toward Christogonus’s visa application, health surcharge, and relocation expenses. I will be withdrawing the funds personally and disbursing them to cover the required payments. Any remaining funds will be sent to Christogonus to secure housing and meet the proof of funds requirement. I’ll post updates as milestones are reached.
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<div>Every contribution—no matter the size—helps remove the final barriers standing between a passionate new educator and the classroom he’s ready to serve. Thank you for helping make this next chapter possible.
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Sarah Runkle

Anonymous

Samuel McDermott

Brian Nord

Ginata Pagul

Carol Bulakh

Diana Spencer

Sara Anbir

Yuanyuan Zhang

MARINA OBERMAN

Help Christogonus Stay in the UK to Start Teaching

Help Christogonus Stay in the UK to Start Teaching

Still $5,440 to go. Help us build momentum.