Dejan (top left) and Djibril (top right) Ndiaye planned to donate $100 to help Fazah (bottom left) and Joseph (bottom right). They raised over $1,700 for the African children. (submitted/Courtenay Ndiaye)

By Dan Marshall

Lending a Hand

Nanaimo brothers fundraising efforts for Congo orphans surpasses expectations

Dec 4, 2020 | 7:14 AM

NANAIMO — Two local brothers want to make life a little better for kids in need half a world away.

Nine-year-old Djibril and six-year-old Dejan Ndiaye planned to raise $100 to help two children at Grace Orphanage in the Congo. In just three days donations had soared to over $1,700.

Courtenay, the boys mother, said the family never anticipated the fundraiser would grow into something much bigger for orphans Joseph and Fazah.

“It’s all of a sudden such a big ripple effect. There’s so much generosity in our community. People are stepping up and it’s overwhelming.”

The money will be used to purchase basic necessities including bed sheets and an outfit for each boy who are the same age as the Nanaimo brothers.

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Courtenay shared the fundraising efforts on social media and links got shared around through friends and various basketball programs the family is involved with.

Djibril commented helping two other boys in need lined up with a concept he learned in school about filling up an imaginary bucket.

“Every time you do something nice you get a drop and they get a drop until you fill it. It makes you happier.”

The Ndiaye family have supported the Grace Orphanage since 2014 due to Djimith, the boys father, growing up in Senegal.

To make a contribution to the fundraising effort, click here. Donations are being accepted until Dec. 20.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77