BENGALURU: Several startups, artistes and public movements banked on crowdfunding this year. The world did seem like a generous place after all.
Nadeem Akram too had a taste of this warm generosity, at a time when he was struggling to fund his education.
Running short on funds, the second year Masters of Computer Applications at New Horizon college student was still clueless on how he could foot in `35,000 of his tuition fee at the insititute earlier this month. This is when he was advised by his friends to take to crowdfunding.
He created a page on the crowdfunding platform Milaap on December 19 and was flooded with donors. Within a day,Nadeem met his target money and paid off his tuition fee.
“I was very excited and moved by the support people were giving me. I don’t know any of my donors personally. Their contribution has helped me today,” Nadeem says. Other than Indians, several Americans too pitched in funds, he adds.
“Someone made a donation of $400. I don’t know the name of the person, but I am very thankful to him or her,” he adds.
Nadeem says his family was overwhelmed by the response. “My parents asked me give it back to the society someday. They told me that I should also help someone in need, in the future. It’s when we are being helped that we understand what it is like to help someone else,” he says further.
Recalling the dilemma he faced due to a financial crunch, Nadeem says, “At one point I thought I had to discontinue my studies to earn and fund my education.”