Support Nepalese Deaf student Aayush Gurung’s university costs

To support Aayush, click here.

Hello, I am Aayush Gurung. I am profoundly Deaf and Nepalese. I rely on Sign Languages to communicate and have no speech.

After studying in Nepal, I moved to the UK in 2016 and having passed all my exams, I have been offered a place to study a BA Accounting and Finance at Bournemouth University. 

But I need help in order to do so, which is why I have launched a fundraising campaign.

Watch Aayush signing about his situation below, or scroll down to continue in English:

My financial situation

My immigration status is Limited Leave to Remain, which means that I am not entitled to any student loan, accommodation, maintenance loans or Disabled Student Allowance from the government.

I have to self-fund and pay International Student fees plus disabled student support for sign language interpreters and note-takers.

I am also not entitled to claim any state benefits or Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments, but my parents support me financially; my mum doesn’t work due to her disability and my dad works as a kitchen assistant at a local Nepalese restaurant.

If I study at Bournemouth University, I will live at home in Blandford to avoid paying accommodation and maintenance expenses and I have a weekend job for some pocket money. 

I have applied for other grants and bursaries but heard nothing yet. I desperately want to go to university this Sept/Oct 2020 and have decided to set up a Go Fund Me campaign; this has been a hard decision because self-promotion is not a natural thing for me or my culture, but I am hoping to reach out to my friends, family and supporters in the Deaf, BAME and local community for some help.

More about me

I studied at the Central Higher Secondary School for the Deaf in Kathmandu, Nepal until January 2016.

I moved to the UK in January 2016 to improve my education and I have been living in Dorset for nearly 5 years.

I went to Hamilton Lodge School and College for Deaf Children in Brighton for two years and I graduated with a grade A in GCSE Mathematics and a Pass in AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting Level 3.

In September 2018 I transferred to Yeovil College to study A-Level Mathematics and Business Studies plus GCSE English Language as well as extracurricular activities such as the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE). 

I passed all my exams and I have been offered a place to study a BA Accounting and Finance at Bournemouth University.

Since moving to the UK at the age of 17, I have been keen to learn English (reading and writing) and British Sign Language (BSL), which differ considerably from Nepali (reading and writing) and Nepalese Sign Language (NSL).

As a Nepalese Deaf person, I have worked hard to achieve a GCSE in English Language and BSL Level 2 and I’m just finishing my BSL Level 3 course, this is developing my vocabulary and improving my communication skills which is enabling me to communicate more effectively. 

I have done two accountancy work experience placements with Legal & General (Brighton) and Milstead Langdon (Yeovil). I really enjoyed working at their offices where I produced workbooks and schedules such as basic bank reconciliations by using spreadsheets.

My communication skills and confidence also improved by interacting with the account assistants about how to report on the business’s accounts in the workplace and this experience boosted my confidence to work in an office environment. 

Now I am looking forward to studying a BA in Accounting and Finance as well as doing another work placement at university. 

My future aim is to become an accountant and after graduating, I would like to travel the world to learn how different financial industries work, which will allow me to bring new innovations to my future accounting career. 

I want to share my learning and experience so that others in the BAME, Deaf or disabled community and workplace benefit from my knowledge and skills.

Why I want to study Accounting and Finance

I have always been good at maths.  Maths is like a visual language to me and I like solving problems. I am interested in the ethical principles which apply in the context of business in the accounting sector. 

I would like to work to support the Deaf, disabled or BAME community in a professional role, perhaps as an accounting manager for a charity.  I would like other young Deaf and/or BAME students to see that aiming high is possible, not just a dream.

Why I am doing a University Fundraising campaign

Going to university would mean the world to me.  I hope my friends, family and supporters will understand about my disadvantaged background and the situation I am in. 

I have no money and that has become a barrier to me progressing with my education.  I can’t go on without some help, but I don’t want to give up.  I hope people will support equality of opportunity and education which is so important for me as a deaf person. 

Deafness is not a learning disability, but it can be a barrier to equal access.  I hope people will support me to reach my potential.  I would like to be a role-model for other Deaf, disabled or BAME students and tell people that disadvantaged students should not be defined by the money in their pocket. 

Donations can be made on my Go Fund Me University Fundraiser Page:  https://gf.me/u/ywgi8d 

Please follow my progress on my Facebook University Fundraiser Page: https://www.facebook.com/Aayush-Gurung-University-Fundraiser-103207794856950/ 

Thank you for helping me 😊 Namaste, Aayush.