New life for Musa and family
Donation protected
Hello,
My name is Gage Crismond - as most of you know. I am a 23 year old professional artist located in Los Angeles California... But this fundraiser is not about me at all.
In the last month I have been completely blessed to randomly connect with a young male in a small village of "Jiboroh", near the town of "Brikama", in Gambia Africa. His name is Musa
How?... (you wont believe it) - Instagram!...
On my feed I came across a video posted by Musa of him holding a newborn; a newborn that he explained he had "found in the bush of the village when going to cut trees (which he had been doing to sell, and make money to feed his siblings). This BLEW MY MIND. "is this real?" - "How did I get connected with this man?" - "Where is he from?" - "Can I help?". Millions of questions raced through my mind... So of course, why not ask?
I sent a DM, wondering what may come from this all.
A couple days went by before I got every answer I could imaging, while gradually gaining a new friend, like many connections on social media. But I think its safe to say, this was a lot different.
It was only a couple days until we started sending photos, videos, and video chatting; being able to understand each-others worlds first hand.
My new friend, Musa, had grown up in Jiboroh with his parents, grandmother, and siblings.
His biggest and only dream - (In a village with limited power, no electronics, food only found in town or from wildlife, and barely livable housing) - was an education and taking care of his family for the rest of his life. His parents started to sponsor his education at a young age; but recently they were visiting his grandmother in a neighbor village when they got into a severe car accident.
His mother and father died on impact... Leaving his family broken and all of the responsibility onto him. Not to mention his education immediately ending.
This broke my heart to hear.. But at the same time, love and inspiration came over me, realizing that I was randomly introduced to a kind hearted and determined man who has decided that giving up would never be an option for him or his loved ones.
Musa Immediately started chopping wood from his village and transporting it, via horse + wagon, to the town closest to sell and use money to buy bread, mayonnaise, and veggies to bring home and feed his siblings with. (cutting trees in Africa is HIGHLY illegal) Additionally spending time heading to the ocean to fish and receive protein for the family.
Since Africa has outlawed cutting of trees as it is an environmental threat (understandable), Musa (and I) are wondering... "How will he survive in a place where paid labor isn't a common/possible thing?" - jail time for him will end his chances of education and leave his family to starve.
Connecting with friends in the neighbored town of Brikama is where he was able to meet a buddy who happened to have access to a phone. Introducing Musa to random tools like Instagram and WhatsApp - that allowed people to connect with an outside world that, basically, Musa didn't know existed.
So what did Musa do?
He asked if he would share his phone with him. In hopes to educate himself and share his story in any possible way that he could.
Not to "beg".. but to "share".
* a reminder that I had reached out to him. And I had asked him how I can help *
- I couldn't believe what was happening. That I had started this relationship with a man on the most western coast of Africa, working harder than anyone I know to (in his words) "build his family a home, feed his family, and learn more about the world".
* As im sitting here liking random posts and eating a whole pizza to myself *
SO.
I myself started to research. looking at the map of his location, understanding the regulations of cutting wood and the jail time received if caught, the currency comparisons of USD and the Gambia Dalasi, and all of the in-betweens. Already becoming a challenge to even find much info on "The Gambia"; But wikipdeia came through with a lot of information that helped me familiarize myself with it.
The bottom line fo Musa is this:
- Gambia is the smallest country in the mainland of Africa
- It is one of the poorest countries in the world
- There is Serious jail time for cutting trees
- Travel, work, and food are almost fantasies for most of the area
- And a single Gambia Dalasi is = to 2 CENTS in America...
(you heard me right).
Conclusion:
After a lot of discussion between - I myself had been able to safely and securely send Musa money that was enough to help feed his family for the next month. Using "WorldRemit" Money transfer, which he had been bold enough to set up and share with me.
(which again researched to prove validity and security of money transfers throughout the world.
https://www.worldremit.com/en/how-it-works
https://www.worldremit.com/en/faq )
For an example of how simple and significant this is, Ill share with you my expense and donation to Musa that "changed his life" and provided monthly expenses for feeding his family.
-$45
Yes.. $45 not only helped, but was more money to him (in their currency) than he has been able to see most of his life.
This experience changed me and lit a fire under me to do anything in my power to help save and change his life... I cant explain the feeling. And something I hope to continue to do when as much as I can, as his first and only sponsor.
His reaction was priceless.. explaining to me how impactful this was, not just to him but his VILLAGE. Creating signs of my name and videos of the kids saying thank you and eating food. He has shared with me all of the food he bought from the money I sent, introduced me to friends and his grandmother over video chat, all thanking me for helping "Save their lives".
With all of this being said - I started to think.. If my $45 has done this - what if I can share this story with the world? What If, (especially with the currency divide), I could CHANGE HIS LIFE?
I had then asked him.. How much money is enough to live your dreams there?" - his dreams being simple.. building a home for his family, feeding them, and re-starting his education.
He wouldn't even answer it for me. He was so humbled and excited about the money I already sent that he didn't even want or expect anything else. He told me - "too much, please dont worry about it, what you have done is enough."
But i urged him... I begged him... to just give me a number. EVEN IF its something I cant help with and would never happen.
His answer (which we discussed in much more detail than im stating in this bio. )
- $500,000 Gambia Dalasi.
Before you react... realize that this is only $10,000 USD.
THAT is when I thought to ask my family and friends to help. To see what I was capable of.. To SHOW Musa how important he is.
THAT is why im here.
- I will be posting video and many shared videos and photos between Musa and I to further explain our goal and the budget and financial details that I have created to help change Musas' life.
Please join me.
Gage Crismond.
My name is Gage Crismond - as most of you know. I am a 23 year old professional artist located in Los Angeles California... But this fundraiser is not about me at all.
In the last month I have been completely blessed to randomly connect with a young male in a small village of "Jiboroh", near the town of "Brikama", in Gambia Africa. His name is Musa
How?... (you wont believe it) - Instagram!...
On my feed I came across a video posted by Musa of him holding a newborn; a newborn that he explained he had "found in the bush of the village when going to cut trees (which he had been doing to sell, and make money to feed his siblings). This BLEW MY MIND. "is this real?" - "How did I get connected with this man?" - "Where is he from?" - "Can I help?". Millions of questions raced through my mind... So of course, why not ask?
I sent a DM, wondering what may come from this all.
A couple days went by before I got every answer I could imaging, while gradually gaining a new friend, like many connections on social media. But I think its safe to say, this was a lot different.
It was only a couple days until we started sending photos, videos, and video chatting; being able to understand each-others worlds first hand.
My new friend, Musa, had grown up in Jiboroh with his parents, grandmother, and siblings.
His biggest and only dream - (In a village with limited power, no electronics, food only found in town or from wildlife, and barely livable housing) - was an education and taking care of his family for the rest of his life. His parents started to sponsor his education at a young age; but recently they were visiting his grandmother in a neighbor village when they got into a severe car accident.
His mother and father died on impact... Leaving his family broken and all of the responsibility onto him. Not to mention his education immediately ending.
This broke my heart to hear.. But at the same time, love and inspiration came over me, realizing that I was randomly introduced to a kind hearted and determined man who has decided that giving up would never be an option for him or his loved ones.
Musa Immediately started chopping wood from his village and transporting it, via horse + wagon, to the town closest to sell and use money to buy bread, mayonnaise, and veggies to bring home and feed his siblings with. (cutting trees in Africa is HIGHLY illegal) Additionally spending time heading to the ocean to fish and receive protein for the family.
Since Africa has outlawed cutting of trees as it is an environmental threat (understandable), Musa (and I) are wondering... "How will he survive in a place where paid labor isn't a common/possible thing?" - jail time for him will end his chances of education and leave his family to starve.
Connecting with friends in the neighbored town of Brikama is where he was able to meet a buddy who happened to have access to a phone. Introducing Musa to random tools like Instagram and WhatsApp - that allowed people to connect with an outside world that, basically, Musa didn't know existed.
So what did Musa do?
He asked if he would share his phone with him. In hopes to educate himself and share his story in any possible way that he could.
Not to "beg".. but to "share".
* a reminder that I had reached out to him. And I had asked him how I can help *
- I couldn't believe what was happening. That I had started this relationship with a man on the most western coast of Africa, working harder than anyone I know to (in his words) "build his family a home, feed his family, and learn more about the world".
* As im sitting here liking random posts and eating a whole pizza to myself *
SO.
I myself started to research. looking at the map of his location, understanding the regulations of cutting wood and the jail time received if caught, the currency comparisons of USD and the Gambia Dalasi, and all of the in-betweens. Already becoming a challenge to even find much info on "The Gambia"; But wikipdeia came through with a lot of information that helped me familiarize myself with it.
The bottom line fo Musa is this:
- Gambia is the smallest country in the mainland of Africa
- It is one of the poorest countries in the world
- There is Serious jail time for cutting trees
- Travel, work, and food are almost fantasies for most of the area
- And a single Gambia Dalasi is = to 2 CENTS in America...
(you heard me right).
Conclusion:
After a lot of discussion between - I myself had been able to safely and securely send Musa money that was enough to help feed his family for the next month. Using "WorldRemit" Money transfer, which he had been bold enough to set up and share with me.
(which again researched to prove validity and security of money transfers throughout the world.
https://www.worldremit.com/en/how-it-works
https://www.worldremit.com/en/faq )
For an example of how simple and significant this is, Ill share with you my expense and donation to Musa that "changed his life" and provided monthly expenses for feeding his family.
-$45
Yes.. $45 not only helped, but was more money to him (in their currency) than he has been able to see most of his life.
This experience changed me and lit a fire under me to do anything in my power to help save and change his life... I cant explain the feeling. And something I hope to continue to do when as much as I can, as his first and only sponsor.
His reaction was priceless.. explaining to me how impactful this was, not just to him but his VILLAGE. Creating signs of my name and videos of the kids saying thank you and eating food. He has shared with me all of the food he bought from the money I sent, introduced me to friends and his grandmother over video chat, all thanking me for helping "Save their lives".
With all of this being said - I started to think.. If my $45 has done this - what if I can share this story with the world? What If, (especially with the currency divide), I could CHANGE HIS LIFE?
I had then asked him.. How much money is enough to live your dreams there?" - his dreams being simple.. building a home for his family, feeding them, and re-starting his education.
He wouldn't even answer it for me. He was so humbled and excited about the money I already sent that he didn't even want or expect anything else. He told me - "too much, please dont worry about it, what you have done is enough."
But i urged him... I begged him... to just give me a number. EVEN IF its something I cant help with and would never happen.
His answer (which we discussed in much more detail than im stating in this bio. )
- $500,000 Gambia Dalasi.
Before you react... realize that this is only $10,000 USD.
THAT is when I thought to ask my family and friends to help. To see what I was capable of.. To SHOW Musa how important he is.
THAT is why im here.
- I will be posting video and many shared videos and photos between Musa and I to further explain our goal and the budget and financial details that I have created to help change Musas' life.
Please join me.
Gage Crismond.
Organizer
Gage Crismond
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA