Chibuike Victor is a highly talented young man from the city of Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria. He needs your help!

🇨🇦 CAD-friendly Funding Site

For Canadian donors: You can donate in CAD using your credit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal. Your payment provider will automatically handle the currency conversion and may charge a conversion fee,.

We invite you to both read his story and to contribute to this fund so that he can continue to study in a safe and nurturing environment. If you assist with transaction fees, all of the funds will go directly to Raising Arts, a consulting service located in Indiana, PA, with 100% of funds offered supporting Chibuike's needs in his musical pursuits.

All the Latest News!

APRIL 15 UPDATE: Chibuike's Canada visa and study permit was submitted today with a decision wait time of up to 2 months. We are feeling optimistic about the outcome and, to that end, Hank will be traveling to Victoria, BC, May 17-21. At his own expense, he will be seeking support for both educational and housing costs. A new crowdfunding campaign will start before the trip that will be friendly to the Canadian dollar and will hopefully prove as helpful as the current Givebutter.com has been the last two years, which will remain open.

March UPDATE: When one door closes, another door opens. Or, in this case for Chibuike, when one country closes, another one opens. On March 16, Chibuike received confirmation that he is being recommended for admission by the School of Music to the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

January 2026 UPDATE: With disappointment but resolve, we move forward.Soon after the 2026 year began, it became clear that the expanded travel ban placed on Nigeria and other Black-centric African nations, among others, by Donald Trump would mean Chibuike would not be granted a U.S. student visa. We are moving forward, however, to search out to countries who remain open to a talented, driven, accomplished young musician.If you have ideas or connections, please email fund manager Hank Knerr.

We continue to believe in this talented young man and the need to expand the professional possibilities for him.

Go Above and Beyond

Recurring donations every month or quarter provide us with predictability for anticipated future needs. And at $1,000 (or foreign currency equivalent) or more, you will receive a personalized thank you video from Chibuike.

Here's Chibuike's Full Story

... how it all started ... about his talent and his beloved but perilous home town ... financial needs .. life goals ... news blog ... and more ...

"Next to my family, my greatest love is the music. My greatest fear is my parents leaving this world without enjoying what they have always expected me to be."
– Chibuike Victor, January 2024

A Crucial Second Round: Outstanding Needs

In this current round of fund raising, because of your great generosity, many of the outstanding needs have been met but funds are still in need for the tremendous costs in pursuit of a Bachelor of Music degree.

COMING UP
- Funds to cover University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, tuition, housing, and related fees starting September 2026, including health and insurance costs, materials, food, transportation, student fees, and more
- Travel to Canada to start schooling, now anticipated for fall semester 2026, all depending on timing of the visa and student permit application process
- Continued living and medical expenses plus school supplies and fees while he remains at Muson.

CONTINUING
- General support for minimal day-to-day living expenses, including food
- Additional internet data to continue communication and facilitate daily learning
- Housing in Lagos
- Medical emergency fund (National Healthcare in Nigeria is not fully in place at this time)

COMPLETED
- Expenses covering travel to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in early 2024 for auditions and testing
- Expenses covering travel this summer, 2024, to Muson for an invitational recital of promising students
- A digital pad for distance learning provided by a committed anonymous donor
- Travel/lodging to Lagos, Nigeria, to attend his final scholarship auditions at Muson School of Music
- Supplies, books, and materials to begin his first semester at Muson, September 2024
- Concert wear including two suit, dress shirts, and ties, plus a suitcase
- An upgraded mobile phone to replace a broken used phone
- A travel case for his cello, which was secured thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor
- Laptop supporting his studies with case and tabletop stand donated by an Indiana, PA, church congregation
- Costs related to applying for his Nigerian passport and other substantial expenses for a possible U.S. student visa and related travel
- Expenses related to a recital set for 17 February 2025
- Travel and lodging expenses for his parents, oldest brother, and a close cousin to see him perform for the first time in his recital
- Application fees for Indiana University of Pennsylvania along with other fees related to obtaining his F-1 Student Visa to study in the U.S.
- Covering expenses for his travel to Abuja, Nigeria, to interview July 8 for his F-1 Student Visa.
- Travel back to Lagos to begin fall semester 2025 and spring 2026 at Muson
- Application fees to University of Victoria and Caledonia University (Montreal
- Fees for required ABRSM Grade 8 music examinations

Previous Needs and Prior Donors

The first round of the campaign for Chibuike, September 2023-January 2024, secured a few major essentials such as a cello and keyboard, a power pack, a used mobile phone, a trip to audition and test for a scholarship slot, and general help with day-to-day expenses. A huge thank you is extended to those who made the first round a success:

Jon Allor, Jamie Alumbaugh, Lucian Balmer, Dianne Betkowski, Ruby Butcher, Grace Christus, Dar Churcher, Katherine Cohen, Irma De Jong, Rebecca Gilliver, Sarah Goodall, Carla Erika, Grauer Vetter, Drew Hemenger, Bernie Hostetler, Diana E. Inselberg, Michael Kevin Jones, Hank Knerr, Patricia Kostek, Susan Lafky, Elizabeth Macintosh, Augustin Maruri, Linda Matchan, Aisling McCarthy, John Pike, Emma Schilling, Lucy Schilling, Herre Jan Stegenga, Olga van Oeffelen, Bruce Vogt, Jennifer Wagner, Blake Zicker

Prior Donors. If you donated to this fund through GoFundMe and wish to be kept updated, please email Hank Knerr so that you can be put on our contact list.

Fine Print

Paying Transaction Fees. This is found in the "Final Details" window when completing your donation and will mean that 100% of your donated amount will go to the Chibuike Victor funds. If you prefer to have the transaction fees taken out of your donated amount, click on "Edit" and uncheck the "Yes, cover the fees" box. As you check out, you will also have the opportunity to leave an optional tip to GiveButter and their work.

Non-US Currency: If you donate with any currency other than USD, your bank may charge a conversion fee.

Tax Deduction: At present, this fund is not associated with a 501ciii (not-for-profit) organization and, therefore, is ineligible in the U.S. as a charitable tax deduction. However, sponsorship packages can be designed to make your donation tax-deductible as a business marketing expense. Please email Hank Knerr for more details. Other countries will have their own laws regarding tax deduction, if any.

Questions? Email fund manager Hank Knerr.

Chibuike's Full Story

Chibuike Victor, Cello

A Musical Journey