>> GOOD SAMARITANS
Locals Camille Murner and Revel Pough are working with the community to raise money for international student Weyman to attend Georgia Military College.
Weyman is originally from Zimbabwe and came to America to attend a college in Kansas with the promise of a soccer scholarship. However, difficulty would strike for his journey when the proposed scholarship fell through, and the college informed him that he owed $3,800 if he wished to attend his first semester. Weyman had no way to pay this money on his own and had no family support, so he was advised to look elsewhere for college.
“I met Weymen when the owner of the Maranatha Thrift Store asked me if I needed help with an estate sale I was doing at the time. He told me he had two men from Africa who were going to be playing soccer and could help me. One of these men was Weyman,” said Murner.
Murner explained that during the estate sale, Weyman asked if he could speak to her. As a retired high school principal and the experience of working in education for 30 years, Murner expressed that she was used to students wanting to confide with her and didn’t find it unusual.
“He told me that he was worried about being here and about going to his college. Things didn’t feel right to him, and he told me, ‘I don’t think that they’re being honest with me,’” Murner said. “We talked a bit more about his situation and that’s when I started making some connections for him at our community college.”
Weyman wants to attend college to become a business entrepreneur. Thanks to the help of Murner, Pough, and the generosity of GMC, he has started practice with the GMC soccer team and already started his first classes. However, despite his educational career beginning, payment for the semester is already due.
“All the money that we raise will go to pay his tuition,” said Murner. “GMC truly did him a favor. We did not think he would be able to be enrolled until October, but they got him enrolled. The money we earned up to his enrollment, we used to pay a down payment on his tuition.”
As of Aug. 24, the community has raised $565 of the $3,000 goal on the GoFundMePage. There have also been some donations made offline that have increased that number to achieve Weyman’s first quarter. His total fees for the year will be $7,800.
“Weyman will be the first to tell you that he’s not looking for pity or handouts. He’s thankful for the community’s support and he’s been applying for jobs at GMC so he can help to pay his own way as well,” said Murner. “He says all the time, people here don’t know how blessed they are to live in America. His life has changed exponentially, just by coming here and having his own space.”
Murner emphasized that she is so grateful for the community’s support and that no matter the dollar amount someone contributed, she has seen it affect Weyman’s life positively.
“A lot of times we give money and don’t know where it’s going or what’s gonna happen with it. But I want these people to know that a young man is forever changed and forever grateful,” said Murner.
Murner also shared that has seen the ripple of the community’s support and Weyman’s presence on campus affect those around him. One example of this is her granddaughter who attends first grade at GMC.
“My granddaughter went to her mom and dad one night and told them that she had $20 left from her birthday. She decided that she wanted to donate that money towards Weyman’s college fund because she found it so cool that he came across the world to go to the same school as her,” said Murner. “That ripple effect of generosity and care travels all around us.”
At this time, Weyman is in America on an I-20 and will be deported back to Zimbabwe if he is not in school. Murner and Pough are working together to ensure Weyman has food and shelter but must ask for a helping hand to paint the way for Weyman’s future as a businessman. To learn more about Weyman’s journey or donate, visit https://gofund.me/17606b87.
“In just three weeks after his journey looked worse, Weyman knew that Milledgeville, Georgia was the place he wanted to come,” said Murner, “He wants to see his American dream come to fruition and I hope we can continue to support him through it.”