Supportive donors have given over MVR 1 million via a TikTok live fundraising event to assist in building a home for Mohamed Fayyah Hassan, known as Dhonkalo, a young man with autism and ADHD, along with his father, Hassan Fayaz.

Dhonkalo is the moniker Fayaz assigned to his 19-year-old son. The son and father now reside with Dhonkalo’s grandmother in a crumbling old home on the island of B. Hithaadhoo.

Fayaz has been chronicling his daily struggles and living circumstances on TikTok, where his videos have garnered significant public interest and compassion. While Dhonkalo can express simple words like ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad,’ he cannot engage in verbal communication. To ensure the ongoing care his son needs, Fayaz left his job and focused solely on Dhonkalo’s welfare.

Fayaz mentioned that their present residence is tight, lacks proper ventilation, and does not offer enough room for Dhonkalo to move comfortably. Aiming to establish a better living space for his son, Fayaz started building a new house, which is now roofed.

Nonetheless, vital finishing tasks, such as flooring and tiling, are still unfinished. Progress on construction significantly decreased after Fayaz quit his job to become a full-time caregiver, resulting in the family relying on Dhonkalo’s disability benefits and the meager income Fayaz makes from sporadic odd jobs. His main goal is to finish the house quickly, providing Dhonkalo with a larger and more appropriate space to play and reside.

In a significant show of support, members of the Maldivian TikTok community coordinated a live fundraising event to assist in funding the house's completion. The event, showcasing various notable TikTok personalities, drew over 14,000 attendees in just the first half hour.