TikTok community raises over MVR 1M for Fayaz and his beloved son, Dhonkalo

Generous donors have contributed more than MVR 1 million through a TikTok live fundraising session to support the construction of a home for Mohamed Fayyah Hassan, affectionately referred to as Dhonkalo, a young man living with autism and ADHD, and his father, Hassan Fayaz.

Dhonkalo is the nickname Fayaz gave to his 19-year-old son. The father and son currently live with Dhonkalo’s grandmother in a deteriorating old house on the island of B. Hithaadhoo.

Fayaz has been documenting their daily challenges and living conditions on TikTok, where his videos have attracted considerable public attention and sympathy. Although Dhonkalo is able to say basic words such as ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, he is unable to communicate verbally. In order to provide the continuous care his son requires, Fayaz resigned from his job and devoted himself entirely to Dhonkalo’s well-being.

Fayaz said their current home is cramped, poorly ventilated, and does not provide adequate space for Dhonkalo to move around freely. Seeking to create a more suitable living environment for his son, Fayaz began construction of a new house, which has now been roofed.

However, essential finishing work, including flooring and tiling, remains incomplete. Construction progress slowed considerably after Fayaz left his job to become a full-time caregiver, leaving the family dependent on Dhonkalo’s disability allowance and the limited income Fayaz earns through occasional odd jobs. His primary objective is to complete the house as soon as possible, allowing Dhonkalo to have a more spacious and suitable environment in which to play and live.

In a notable display of solidarity, members of the Maldivian TikTok community organized a live fundraising event to help finance the completion of the house. The session, which featured several prominent TikTok hosts, attracted more than 14,000 participants within its first 30 minutes.

Donations were made directly to Fayaz’s Bank of Maldives (BML) and Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) accounts. By 1:00am, Fayaz confirmed that the total amount raised had surpassed MVR 1.2 million.

Expressing his deep gratitude to the organizers and donors, Fayaz said he had never expected such an overwhelming response.

"I am beyond happy; I never expected it to reach this level. This experience has shown me how ready the Maldivian people are to help those in need. On behalf of myself and Dhonkalo, I offer my heartfelt thanks," Fayaz said.

In addition to financial contributions, several individuals pledged to provide furniture and other essential household items during the live fundraising session.

The Maldivian TikTok community has previously spearheaded similar humanitarian initiatives, successfully mobilizing resources to provide financial assistance to individuals and families facing vulnerable circumstances.