Help Samuel continue studying at Castleton

Samuel is from a rural area west of Freetown, Sierra Leone. He came to study at Castleton University this fall. However, his entire semester has been full of stress and worry due to extremely unfortunate events on August 12, the day he was leaving to come to Castleton. After his family dropped him off at the airport, they got caught up in violent protests. Political protesters clashed with police out of anger about rising fuel and food prices. Protesters and police were killed in days of clashes. 

Samuel’s uncle was severely beaten that day and hospitalized for months before he passed away from his injuries in October. This uncle was Samuel’s sponsor for his studies in the United States, a hugely important opportunity for Samuel, now at risk after just a few months.

Samuel desperately wants to stay at Castleton University and finish his education here. He says, “I'm majoring in business management and taking courses in social work. I wish to gain experience in management in a business in the U.S., and especially Vermont, and later to work in any U.S. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), especially the charitable ones to help support people all over the world, or open a business to help in the socioeconomic development in my country. And I have a plan for my younger siblings to have a better education.”

The Friends of Castleton International Students are trying to raise enough money so Samuel can stay through the next semester. In the meantime, several people are helping to find him a more sustainable source of funding.

Samuel says, “Castleton is a very nice community with very nice people. I really appreciate the opportunity given to me by the University to be here to further my studies and I appreciate all my professors, who have been very nice to me. There are many things lacking in my country, like a poor educational system. And after you graduate from college, the chances of you getting a job are very little if you don't have connections in government institutions and private businesses, and that is why many youths in my country are frustrated."

Please donate, to help allow Samuel to continue at Castleton. After the great effort and sacrifice of his family to get him here, leaving after one semester would be a waste, and also a waste of an opportunity for the CU community to get to know this young man with so much to teach us, including about opportunities we take for granted. Let's give him the gift of at least another semester to benefit from the peaceful and supportive community of CU and the town of Castleton, and the education he is willing to work so hard for.