Help Dami and Mohammad stay in school.

Hello everyone,

My name is Dami (Isa) Salaudeen. I am a final year international Communication and Media Studies student at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. My brother, Mohammad Salaudeen, is also an international student of Computer Science at Carleton. In 2019, Covid-19 hit the globe. My home country, Nigeria, experienced a massive economic downturn. My family back home suffered significant losses. My dad, who is my official sponsor in Canada, has found it difficult to pay my school fees and rent. As an international student, things became so challenging I had to leave school for a while and get a part-time job to offset certain costs.

My brother, Mohammad, who lives with me, has also been affected. Carleton University has given him one week to pay $17,828 CAD, which he owes in school fees. My brother and I owe college tuition for a semester that has been completed, and we cannot afford future tuition. He will be forced out of school and lose his status in Canada if we cannot raise the money. I fear that in the coming weeks, with how much I owe (17,816 CAD), this might be my fate too. The remainder of our goal amount would go towards our living expenses and debt repayment so we can once again support ourselves.

Right now, my goal of building a career in media seems bleak. In addition to being a Communication and Media Studies student, I am a music producer and rapper, popularly known as Banggz. I have spent many years growing and building an audience in Ottawa. In the past year, I have been recognized by CBC as a testament to my talent and potential. However, I fear that all of it will come crashing down. My brother dreams of becoming a software engineer and has been doing incredible in school since he started.

Our parents cannot raise the required funds for us to finish school and pursue our dreams. It has been an extremely difficult time for the family, as my dad, our primary sponsor, is currently in debt. In addition, the current exchange rate in Nigeria makes raising money difficult. Compared to the dollar, the Nigerian naira costs three times more than it did in 2019. All this has put a strain on our family finances and pushed us to come forward to ask for help.

We have exhausted all options and have no choice but to seek help from friends and well-wishers. We’re in desperate need of any amount you can spare. Please donate to our fundraiser, and share with your friends, if possible. Every cent will be appreciated. Thank you so much for your support. May you find help in your time of need.

If you're in Nigeria and would like to make a donation in naira, please use this link: https://flutterwave.com/donate/mksriexgzbpt

God Bless.