 I've never done a video like this, and no video is going to be the first one ever. And knowing that this video is going to be your first one ever, I want this video to be special. Yay! I'm the one and only annoying village boy from Ghana. I'm a genitive. I'm a genitive of Africa. I'm celebrating with people. Thank you. I just want to tell you that you're amazing. Thank you. Thank you. You're awesome. Thank you. Can you tell me your name and what you're doing here? My name is Emma Elinam Salah. I am the team lead for Butterfly Ghana Foundation with our flagship projects being Anglo-Special School. Currently, we have a school. It's a day center that trains children with intellectual disabilities. So we take them through some numeracy, literacy, and then life skills, yes. So we equip them to be self-sufficient as possible. Yes, that's what we do. I was born and bred in Accra, but then I come from Anglauga, which is not too far from here. Yes, yes. And if you're not born in here, what are you doing here then? Okay, so I think I came here for the first time in 2010. And after that, I used to come during some weekends and holidays. My childhood friend works here. Yes, so I come to visit here. In 2017, in February, I lost my mom. I was really devastated. I was broken. I didn't even know where to start and pick myself from. Are you not close to your mom? Yes, we're very close. We are only two girls. I'm the youngest. So I was like, she's my everything. Like, yes, she was my everything. Well, after losing hair and then after the funeral, I decided that I had to get a place to put myself together because I lost so much weight. In fact, at that time, if you see me and then you were told I had a terminal disease or something, you believe it. I was really, like, very broken. So I needed a place to put myself together. And I had always found that solace here whenever I visited. So why not? Yes, I decided to come here and put myself together. So the reason why you found yourself in the water a bit of Ghana is you lost your mom? Yes, because I mean, nobody who knew me back then ever would have believed out even myself. I mean, if probably six years ago, anyone had told me I would be living here, I would just ask you to slap yourself because I had never dreamed of my life here. Are you doing here at the moment? Okay, so back in Accra, I'd been volunteering with the Autism Centre. That is Autism Awareness Care and Training Centre. They used to be in Kokomimlidia now in Hachu. I've been volunteering with them since 2012 through the Vodafone World of Difference programme. Yes, it was a two-month programme, but then after the two months in 2012, I continued going because I enjoyed working with the children. So I continued going after 2012 through to the time I lost my mother. So when I came here trying to put myself together, I saw some of the children around in church and the neighbourhood walking about, you know. So I went to the assembly to find out about them. And I realised there were just a few in school. And those few had to be sent all the way to Hohua, which is about four hours drive from here, yes, to get some education. So I was like, okay, why can't we start something here? And they were like, okay, if you can put organisers, why not? So I decided to talk to a few friends who supported me, get a place, rent a place. And then I started getting a few of the teaching and learning materials. So in October 2018, we took off with one student. Most of the parents, like, cannot really afford the service. So just before the school took off, I started a seafood business. So usually I saw seafood and shrimp, oysters, prawns, octopus. I saw them from the women and then the fisher folks. I partaged and then sent to Accra. Yes, so that has been our source of funding. And then a few friends coming from time to time to support us. That is how we've been able to sustain this till now, yes. Which means you are the same person who is giving them food? Yes, yes. We provide snack and lunch every day. You are not paying fees? No, we don't take any money from anybody. Personally, I'm going to give you a thousand dollars. Thank you so much, God bless you. I will give you a thousand dollars. I'm actually on my way traveling. I will give you a thousand dollars. Thank you so much. This year is actually declared as the year of charity on my YouTube channel. Wow. And I would love to do something. We're going to build you the school. Thank you so much. But I have a request. Okay. I have to name the school after your mom. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I've always wanted to do that in her memory. Yes, to honor her memory. And I believe that would as well give me some closure personally, yes. Because I've always been pained because I wasn't able to do much for her before she passed. So, yes, naming the place after her would mean a lot to me. I've never done this before. But since I declared 2022 as the year of charity, I guess you all have to agree with me that she needs our support. And she needs to be in the plan of building schools in 2022. And when I go here, the warm welcome that I had from the kids when they touch me, I mean, it seems they've been waiting for me for so long. Yes. I would be so happy knowing that you and I would be able to build a school for kids like this. And listen, I'm just waiting for you to give me the approval of the land being ready. I'm not going to be the one to come around. The committee will come. Okay. I've formed the committee that's going to make sure that everything is done. Okay. So the committee will come and check the land, whatever you have, and then we know how much we're spending on the school structure. And then we'll build it in here. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. This means so much to us. We're very grateful. Thank you so much. Don't stop what you've started. Thank you. We'll help you make that dream come true. Thank you. My mom is so special to me. It's actually the fifth year that I also lost my dad. Wow, sorry. I mean, I correlate your story, how I left the city to go into the village just to heal myself when I lost my dad. So hearing your story, I correlate. And I'll be happy that we'll build a school in here and you name the school after your mom. I mean, I don't know your mom's name for now, but the school has to be... Thank you so much. Thank you. And I want to say that is there anything you want to show us before we go? Yes. Yes. Now, when they come in, what kind of activities do they do? We do numerous literacy skills. We teach them numerous literacy skills and then life skills. And then one of them has expressed interest in learning leather wax. So yes, he has started. So I'm sure by the time he comes back again, we'll have some slippers or sandals ready for you. Oh, me? Don't worry. I'm from the village. The size of your feet. Oh, okay. My size. I don't even know. Make sure you give me the right size. I've seen what you've done. And I feel like you deserve some support. And why should we support you? Supporting us would help give more hope to parents with children with intellectual disabilities and within Qatar and environs. It would help us be able to enroll more of the children and so we can help them become better and more useful to society. I was going to take some time. What I wanted to do is that I wanted to be able to send her something, anything to run the school for you. So I come back again because when I come back again, I want to see more kids. 7 is not enough for me because I'm seeing how the kids are so excited. How the kids are living their best life in here. And seeing this touches me a lot. See, I've done a lot of exercise today, man. So, all I wanted to do is I'm going to put a number. If you have anything to support her. Send it to her directly. I have nothing to do with it. I am sending you $1,000 right now. Thank you so much. And I wish you all the best. Thank you. And I'll keep you attached. Thank you. And you'll see me soon. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. I appreciate it. Of course, feel free.