Syrian man selling pens on street to feed his daughter earns $37k after picture goes viral | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Friday, 28 August 2015

Syrian man selling pens on street to feed his daughter earns $37k after picture goes viral

This is great news! More than $37k has been raised in just 11 hours to support a Syrian refugee pictured selling pens in Beirut while carrying his sleeping daughter.
In the heartbreaking images, the man offers out a handful of biros, clutching a plastic bag of more pens while his little daughter sleeps wrapped over his shoulder.
The photos of the father and child went viral after they were posted two days ago on Twitter by activist Gissur Simonarson.
He was then inundated with requests to help the man and so Gissur, based in Norway, announced he was going to try to find him.
He launched a Twitter account named #BuyPens and within 30 minutes, someone on Twitter contacted Gissur saying he saw the man every day around his house.
Incredibly, twenty-four hours later the man and his daughter were identified as single dad-of-two Abdul and his daughter Reem, four and a half.

Gissi launched a crowdfunding page to raise money to help Abdul start a new life for his family.
Amazingly, in the first 30 minutes Gissur's goal of $5,000 was raised.

He wrote: "We have reached my goal of $5,000 in the first 30 min.
"This was never meant as a cap, just something to start with.

"Let's make sure that Abdul and Reem can really start a great new life.
"All extra donations will of course go directly to them as well."
The fundraising total has reached more than $37,859 in 11 hours and continues to go up.

111 comments:

  1. Help me wish my younger bro Ogobor Eronmhon hbday ....


    Thank u

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  2. Wow this is heartwarming

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  3. God is the greatest, may His name be praise all over the world..He can change ur story even in the second

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  4. Omg ! ! goosebumps everywhere on my body!!father remember too oo

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  5. Whoaaaa that's 1daful oooooo.

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  6. This is so touchy. People can be extreemly nice sometimes though. May God bless all donors. I hope the man invests wisely.











    #TeamBlessed#

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  7. Woooow....thats lovely. Am so happy for them.

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  8. Eiya, ppl are suffering in this world o, seriously...





    #iT WilL OnlY geT beTTer
    #It mUsT eNd iN pRaiSE



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  9. i feel like crying.God bless them

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  10. awww! I'm so happy for him.


    ~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA

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  11. Praise be to God dat made it happen...God bless all d givers

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  12. Woooowww...so happy for them...God be with his family and bless those who donated!!!

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  13. VERY SOON A NIGERIAN WILL START SELLING PENS ON STREET WITH HIS DAUGHTER...LLOL

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    Replies
    1. Hahahahahahahahsaha.... This is so fucking hilarious

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  14. PARENTAL ADVISORY
    ***adult content***




    Yessss, what a way to start my morning, if I may ask how's dangote helping d needy in d society, like bill gate we know....

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  15. See d power of the Internet?

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  16. There's still kindness in the world

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  17. He's so fortunate.

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  18. Its always good to help... Thanks to those who ve contributed...Jah bless.

    <<100%Nigerian>>

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  19. Wow... If it was an african man,they are on their own.

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  20. I was completely touched and had to hold back the tears rolling down my eyes. Its good to know that there are very good people out there ready to help others in need.....

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  21. This a good news and lesson to some people who complain abt their business or work, work hard and see what ll come out it. God is a great God. o Yes.

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  22. That's good. The power of social media in the right direction.

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  23. Wow Good news...Thank God.



    ***dahenriez***

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  24. Thats over 7 million naira already .. cool

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  25. God is so good! I'm over the moon for them. Now this is another positive impact & use of social medial bringing about positive change!

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  26. Wow. This wonderful. Good people still exist.

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  27. Nice people still really exist. So touching

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  28. WOW!!! So happy for Father&Daughter( eyes filled tears of joy for them both) &GOD bless d kind peeps with a good heart who all donated to make them av a better Life!!! #Touching/Inspiriing

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  29. Glad the human side of people are shown here. Linda I made a similar request for a young cancer patient to you but you never acknowledged it. Hope you learn from this. You are doing great all the same.

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  30. That's so lovely. To even think he's a single dad. God bless them

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  31. wow, that's a father's love. God bless all the people that helped

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  32. God is not a man that he should lie. HE promised HE will bless the works of our hands.if that man had been begging he wouldn't have gotten help.

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  33. Awwwww, congrats to him + wishing him all the best. Linda take note!

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  34. Awwwww, congrats to him + wishing him all the best. Linda take note!

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  35. Awwwww, congrats to him + wishing him all the best. Linda take note!

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  36. Awwwww, congrats to him + wishing him all the best. Linda take note!

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  37. awww this brought tears to my eyes, thank GOD for him and God bless the givers.

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  38. This shows the power of social media..gud for them, hope d money is put into gud use

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  39. Goodnews!!!

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  40. God is great, thank. Jesus, now I knw I'll hav a grt dat day

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  41. I like that the world is sometimes compassionate. One nice advantage of the internet, pic went viral, fund set up online wow

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  42. God is Good...and Great!!! May his name be praised...

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  43. Children are really blessings from God,they bring goodluck,imagine if d poor man was not carrying his daughter who would HV looked at him pitifully to know he HV litle Kidd's to tk care of, children are d most sweetest ting on earth and I thank God Almighty for making me a mum, may God Almighty bless all those who contributed in Jesus name amen.

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  44. Yes, this is worthy of donations. A father's love and sacrifice. I wish Nigerian men could be like this man,but trust now,they will rather sit their lazy butts at home and expect either their wives or girlfriends to do the hawking........@@@@@@@Bia Bia😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

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  45. I'm sure that not too long ago, this guy must have had a job, income, a home & a predictable & steady existence before those who caused the war brought his world crashing down. God will visit His anger & retribution on those whose actions bring about misery to others.

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  46. God has a way of blessing his people.....happy for him!

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  47. Wow...this moved me...so many things we take for granted....God please forgive me all my complaints...

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  48. This really made me cry, the pic of that man is one the most heartbreaking picture i have ever seen in my life. Goes on to show that sitting your ass down somewhere hoping for someone to give something is not always the answer. Go out and do something for yourself, people will notice that more. Oluwakemi

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  49. Checkout Nigeria's crowdfunding site www.fundasolva.com

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  50. Am happy for them #onelovefromsnow#

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  51. that is just awesome,i had tears in my eyes..the man must have suffered so much,what it is to carry that sleeping girl on his arm all through...thank God for sending help his way.

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  52. Talk about divine intervention

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  53. Wow! this is beautiful. i thank God for them.

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  54. Linda tears dropped from my eyes, il love to help a lot of plp bt for now my business is not much. Omg....God will bless ds man bcos he never left the children the way my dad left us. It is well.
    Pls nobody should wait to have much before helping, 5-10 is something. Lend a hand



    HOL

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    Replies
    1. Na you dey question and na you dey answer lol

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  55. a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
    .
    Omo see blessing abeg....
    .
    .
    ***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

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  56. Oh Im crying again but this time, its tears of joy. God bless each and everyone that contributed.
    Even with all its faults, its still a beautiful world.

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  57. This is just for us to know God can surprise you in any way.... Negativity is not the way out. Am so happy to see this as I prayed for this man. And yes God answers prayers. Keep the faith Regalobeautyconcept@gmail.com

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  58. Dats good, God has finally intervene. If it were Nigeria lots of people will start selling biro with all dier children.

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  59. God is great!! He listens to prayers

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  60. WOW!!! God bless you all.

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  61. This is what the world should look like. Am so overwhelmed by this. #buypens

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  62. #tearyeyes# oh, Hw wonderful it feels to do good nd be kind. Reach out to sme1 today nd see Hw it feels.

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  63. Oh! Awesome.. Be the reason behind a smile. Help us lord, everyday we pray.

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  64. awww this white have a way of helping themselves,impressive.

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  65. stories that touches the heart

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  66. Wow. Dis is really amazing and at the same time, touching and inspirating. I pray God help dem through all their endeavours

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  67. If an earthly father can do this (show such unconditional love), imagine what your Heavenly Father can do? Trust and believe in God!

    BrendaN

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  68. ehayaa!, i pity the man though, but I blame religion, this is what religion has caused. Unfortunately, many of them are migrating to Europe with their hostile religious belief. Too bad, when will they learn??

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  69. May GOD's name be praised both now and forever! Amen. When I read this story the other day, could not hold back my tears for them. just prayed that someone should just come and help and this is it! so happy for them and know that God has a way of doing things, we never can tell where He would meet us.

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  70. Thank JESUS CHRIST. I prayed and GOD answered our prayers. I am so happy for these family. The Grace of the MOST HIGH will continue to abide with them and mine Amen.

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  71. Waoooo! Super Happy For Him!! God Bless The Twitter activist #Gissur Simonarson and every1 That helped him!! #Do good!

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  72. Great!!!! All thanks to God.

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  73. Dis is so touching, but e no fit happen for nija

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  74. God is not sleeping.

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  75. Im glad someone finally help this man bcos my heart went out to him

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  76. Hungry Nigerians will follow this idea now.. Just like when trekking was business of the day during election.

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  77. Thank God we still have good people in this world.


    www.iblogwithgrace.blogspot.com

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  78. Shows God can change ones life within few hours

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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