Family and friends of a South Etobicoke man who was shot and killed last June are raising funds to finish off a children’s school in his memory in Africa.

Abdulaziz Adan Dubet, 21, who lived in the East Mall, also known as ‘Baby Aziz’ and ‘Sache,’ is described as a social activist, who in the midst of COVID-19 donated $2,000 of his savings to build a roof over a school in his native Somalia.

His friends have launched a Go Fund Me Page to continue with Adan’s dream to finish off the school for young children. So far they have reached $111,971 of a goal of $130,000.

Adan was well-loved and respected in the community. He had a full-time job at Pearson Airport and was planning to get married last summer and move from the East Mall area.

He “was getting married and had plans to build his own family in a safer neighbourhood,” his family wrote on the Go Fund Me page. “He had the biggest heart and would offer his help to anyone without being asked.”

They described “Baby Aziz” as goal-oriented, mature and more capable than people twice his age, while remaining “kind and humble in the process.”

He had been attending Ryerson University and had planned on becoming a lawyer one day.

They are still mourning his death last June 12 when he was shot and killed in broad daylight and believe he “was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“He was taken from us so cowardly and cruelly,” they explained. “Adan deserves justice for his murder. He deserves much better that this world has given him.”

His friends vow the school will be built in Halimale, Somalia, the birthplace of his mother, Halima.

“This is the same school he donated his savings to assist with building its roof/shelter,” they said. “This school is still under construction and is at a standstill due to lack of funding.”

“The construction of this school is what he would have wanted. And we want to name the school in his honour ‘Adan Boarding School.”

Peel Regional Police said he was found in a vehicle outside a hotel in the area of Dundas St. E., and Wharton Way suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers said Adan was found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, which was riddled with bullet holes.

No charges have been laid in connection with his murder.