Real-Life Mowgli Escaped From Ridicule By Living In The Jungle And Gets New Look To Start School

Nov 04, 2021 by apost team

No matter how much we hope and how hard we try to be good people, there are sadly still some cold-hearted people in the world who mock those that look or live life differently than them. A 22-year-old man by the name of Zanziman Ellie has unfortunately had to deal with his fair share of cruel people. Based on the way he looks at the place where he sought recluse in, many people in his home area of Ubumwe, Rwanda, have dubbed him as the "real-life Mowgli."

Much like the character from "The Jungle Book," Ellie spent many days hiking in the jungle, where he actually lived with his mother. He was hurt from the constant bullying and ridicule he received on a daily basis and yearned to escape from the people who were so unkind to him, so he decided to live in the jungle.

Those around Ellie were especially critical about the way he looked and picked on him for his differences. Ellie was born with a condition called microcephaly. This condition results in a baby's head being much smaller than what is usually expected. It seemed like no one knew how to act properly around Ellie, and they all turned their backs on him and made fun of him.

Fortunately, after a documentary about Ellie was aired in 2020, a plethora of donations poured in to help the man and his mother build a better life. Since then, Ellie has received a new look and has been given a newfound sense of confidence as he starts his next journey by enrolling in school.

His New Life

After being born with microcephaly, Ellie has spent most of his life being picked on by others for his looks and for seeking shelter in a Rwandan jungle. According to Unilad, microcephaly results in a baby's head being born smaller than expected and has been linked to issues including seizures, developmental delay, intellectual disability, feeding problems, hearing loss, and vision problems. There is no known cure.

In 2020, a documentary about Ellie's life was aired, and a GoFundMe page was set up to help him, and his mother start a better life. Donations from all over the world quickly poured in, and the money has since gone to Ellie's education — something that he had previously been denied due to his mental capacity, as per Unilad.

Afrimax's first GoFundMe set up for Ellie was geared towards helping his mother to raise him. The fundraiser was called "Help Her To Raise This Child," and the description read:

"let's help this single mother to raise this child due to the fact that she's unemployed which makes the family to run out of food and forces this young boy to go to the forest and eat grasses. let's contribute and save this boy and his mother's life." 

Since the fundraiser's posting, they have exceeded their $15,000 goal and raised $15,697.

As of October 2021, the 22-year-old is now a student at the Ubumwe Community Center in Gisenyi, Rwanda, and looks absolutely dapper every day in class. He regularly wears a white shirt and black suit to school. 

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Now a new GoFundMe for Ellie has been posted, with the title, "Let Us Change ELIE's Life Completely." The description reads:

"Nsanzimana Elie was born when parents needed him the most. It was after a few years when they had produced several children dying simultaneously. He does not talk and due to his facial appearance, he was always bullied, trolled and harassed. Life is now different he is now going to school, he's mother is hoping for the best from this young man. A lot is still needed including school materials and surviving in general. You can donate so as to change this man's life completely."

At the time of writing, the fundraiser has raised only $8,607 of its $20,000 goal. 

With Ellie's story being read by more and more people every day, it's likely that this second fundraiser will also reach its goal so that Ellie and his mother can receive the help and support that they need. School supplies for Ellie are crucial for his academic success.

Speaking with The Mirror in October 2021, Ellie's mom raved about their transformed life. She said, "At the moment he is in school with his peers and I am so happy. My son is having a good life, well-wishers have built me a house… my sorrow has been taken away."

Not only did Ellie get a boost in his personal belongings and clothes, but it seems like he has also found a beautiful new wave of confidence. According to Unilad, he has been seen smiling proudly while wearing his suit to class. People's attitudes toward Ellie have also changed, and the young man is now referred to as a local celebrity, with people regularly stopping him on the streets to take a picture with him.

What do you think about this young man's new look and his transformed life? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family members and friends, too.