Campaign Story

My name is Okojie Favour, I just graduated from the University. I’m 22 years old and I’ll be 23 this year, and I’m a barber.

Here is my story: I’m the only son of my mum, I have two sisters, one younger and one older. Life has really been hard for us since we lost our dad because we don’t get support from any family member, not even my dad’s siblings. When we finally left the village to the city to try and get a better life, I developed a passion for barbering (cutting hair), but unfortunately there is no barber college in Nigeria, so I told my mum about it and she took me to a barbershop to learn. There I started learning and I studied for about 2 years. I was cutting fine, but wasn’t satisfied with the way I was cutting so someone told me about getting a role model on YouTube. I went on YouTube and saw different god-level barbers and started watching their videos and I began to cut better. So after my time spent learning there was no money to open a shop so I started working for my boss who taught me how to cut hair. I started telling my mum about traveling out of the country so I can go to a standard barber school and also work while away, so I can have money when I come back. We didn’t have anyone to support my dreams of traveling out of my country, going to barber school and also working abroad to get a better life.

So about last year my cousin who also knew about my dreams and lives in Italy told me to get a passport so he can foot my bills to travel to the USA. I was very happy but didn’t have money for the passport but I finally got it by doing some menial jobs and my mum supported me so I applied for the 5 years passport because that was all I could pay for and the passport arrived after about 3 months.

When the passport arrived, I told my cousin who promised to help me, he just said “Thank God the passport is out,” so I asked him about the processing, he didn’t answer so I thought he was busy and I left him to finish up . I sent a message across just to talk about it days after but he just reads and no longer responds. My mum and I were down for days because the only person that promised to help me left me because he was probably thinking about the amount he’ll spend helping me. I didn’t want to conclude that he hasn’t forgotten about me so I told a friend of mine (female, 28) that lives in Miami, FL that promised to give me a room to stay when I’m able to make it to the US.

My friend would love to help me but she and her parents don’t have the means to help me move to the US. I understand my friend totally because it’s not easy taking someone to another country. So I’m writing this to solicit for support so I can process my visa and go to the US because I don’t have the resources to help me get there. My mum has no idea of GoFundMe and I don’t plan on telling her until I’m able to get the support I need, so I can surprise her and make her happy. Please everyone support me to fulfill my dreams with any amount you have, anything will be appreciated.