Hi. My name is Utanu and I am the aunt of the prospect recipient of your donations. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where I welcomed my nephew, Haguy Bakafwa. as an international student. So, I am coming to you to humbly beg money on behalf of my nephew Haguy, a brilliant and lovely young from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, now attending the engineering school at the Polytechnique Montreal of the University of Montreal in Canada. I am writing you to raise funds and help a less fortunate, yet immensely promising young soul achieve his dreams of becoming an Electric Engineer. Haguy is so intelligent and dedicated to his studies that, as a first-year student, he is already part of the student’s Technical Society with the mission to build an electric car and compete internationally. This dream will become possible only with the help of kind-hearted souls like you. Your donation will be greatly appreciated, and I thank you in advance for your support. I asked Haguy to write you and talk to you directly. Here is his letter:
“Hello, everyone,
I’m Haguy, and I’m a 19-year-old international student currently living in Toronto, Canada. I’m pursuing my dream of studying Electrical Engineering as a first-year student at the Polytechnic School of the University of Montreal/Université de Montréal, where my journey began on August 28, 2023. You can find proof of my admission attached.
My goal is to become an Electrical Engineer and make a positive impact by providing clean and renewable energy solutions for our planet. But, to achieve this dream, I need financial support because education is expensive.
I want to share a bit about my background. I’m an orphan; I lost my father in 2019. My mother and my aunt have been my pillars of support, doing their best to take care of me and my three siblings. Thanks to the kindness of someone from my church who believed in me, I received a student visa to Canada. My mother and aunt worked hard to pay for this opportunity. I am forever grateful to that person.
I arrived in Toronto on January 19, 2023, as an international student from the Democratic Republic of Congo. My aunt is helping me with tuition and living expenses. I initially planned to study Electrical Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland after completing an English language program. However, I discovered that the University of Montreal offers the program in French, which is my first language, so I applied and was accepted.
I’ve been in class for a week, but I’m already feeling the financial strain. My aunt has been incredibly supportive, purchasing an expensive laptop for my engineering studies, paying three months of rent in Montreal, and contributing $5,000 toward my $14,500 tuition fee for this fall. The total cost of tuition for a year is $29,000. My aunt also covered my books and provided me with living expenses for the first three months while I looked for a part-time job.
However, her resources are stretched to the limit. She is also dealing with serious health issues and medical bills for my mother, who was in a car accident on the day I left for Canada. My aunt is a strong single mother, but she can’t take on additional work to support me further. Without her help, I won’t be able to pursue my dream.
So, I’m turning to all of you for help. I’ve started a GoFundMe campaign to raise the funds needed to cover my tuition and make my dreams a reality. Here’s a breakdown of what I need:
- $29,000 per year for tuition as an international student (proof in my admission letter).
- $9,500 to cover the remaining balance of my fall semester tuition by November 2023.
I’ll also need support to cover the $24,000 yearly tuition for the coming years while searching for scholarships and working part-time.
To give you a bit more insight into my background, I lost my father when I was 14. He was a successful Civil Engineer. After his passing, my paternal family tried to take everything from us, but my aunt stood up for us. Despite limited means, she’s been a rock for our family, supporting us in various ways.
My mother worked tirelessly to provide for us until her life took a painful turn in a car accident on January 19, 2023. She is currently hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and my aunt is covering her medical bills. The financial strain has taken a toll on my aunt’s health as well.
I’m asking for your help to make my dream come true. Even a small contribution can make a big difference in my life. I promise to work hard and give back to society through my education in Electrical Engineering, contributing to the development of sustainable energy solutions and better lives for those in need. Proof of my admissions to the engineering school and attendances can be provide if required.
I humbly thank you for your support.
Warmly, Haguy.”