Hope And Dignity For Yannick

Yannick Nihangaza, a 23 year old Burundi national studying in India, was savagely attacked by a group of racist people and left for dead on April 22, 2012. 

What happened?

It is really heartbreaking, depressing and sickening to hear what happened to this 24 year old young man. Yannick, while on his short study break, went to visit a friend of his. On his way he was brutally attacked with stones by a group of 9 racist people. Yannick was left for dead. A good Samaritan showed up and rushed the comatose Yannick to the hospital. This happened on April 22, 2012 in India.

Yannick has been in a coma and on a ventilator since then. Only God knows what will happen to Yannick for the rest of his life, if by some miracle he is lucky to ever again wake up. Dignity and justice have been denied to him, and his family cannot afford to pay for Yannick medical needs. Despite Yannick's father calls for help, the Indian authorities remained dead silent in the face of this tragedy that took place on their land. It only took three months for the Indian Government to act and decry this racially charged incident after it received worldwide outcry and calls for justice. So far some four individuals have been arrested, including sons of influential authorities in the Punjab Government, thus the cover up attempt by the Punjab police and dismissal calls for investigations by the boy’s father. The Indian Government has vehemently condemned the crime and accepted to help the boy’s family and arrest all those involved in the crime and cover up attempt.

What can we do? 
Let's all be compassionate and show Yannick, his family and friends that we are all human beings and that we care. This tragedy can happen to anyone of us at anytime. No one with a human soul can let another human being, especially this young and innocent, perish this way. We need to help in whatever way we can to bring dignity and hope to him and his family. As long as there still is a life, we should never give up faith or hope. Please visit the campaign site http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/147308 to financially support him & his family. You can also visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-And-Dignity-For-Yannick/153464198122947 to show your support by liking and sharing this tragic story on your facebook page.