Imo State
Chug chug! Our train began its commute in the Eastern Heartland, Imo State where the work begun straightaway in earnest. The first stop was at the station of the first project, the Central Umueze Ogwa Nursery and Primary School, Mbaitolu in Imo State where we spoke with teachers and pupils about their teaching and learning conditions respectively. The identified problems included infrastructure and learning materials.
We came ready! After acknowledging these issues and discussing strategies to mitigate them, we distributed the learning aids we came with including notebooks, stationaries, school bags, school shoes and socks. We also distributed food to the pupils because only a well-fed mind can learn.
Our next stop was at Umueze Ogwa Secondary School, Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State where we worked with the teeming population of students in two groups according to their gender.
Females were fully taught two topics – Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Period Poverty. These are two of the most important concerns for a female student in Imo state; concerns that can greatly impact their academic and social lives. After the learning sessions, a 2-3 month supply of female hygiene products and pads were distributed to the participants with lessons on use and disposal. They also got notebooks for their trouble.
The males were not left alone. They were fully instructed on personal hygiene with emphasis on bathing and brushing; lessons that have mainly been reserved for the females prior. We then distributed bathing soaps, toothpastes, toothbrushes, deodorants, and notebooks. The males were left feeling better about themselves, personal health and their prospects at getting a solid education and future.
With that, we bade farewell to Imo state, and hello to Lagos state!
Lagos State
Eko ni baje oh! Our train continued its journey in Lagos State in the slums of Makoko where malaria, respiratory diseases and malnutrition are endemic. The life expectancy of settlers in this region has been driven lower than the national expectancy of 55.75 years due to the resident poor living conditions, dangerous jobs undertaken by settlers, poor quality water, and mosquitoes thriving in the nearby lagoons.
WeCare4UAfrica as part of its commitment to good health and well-being, and as part of the general war against malaria, distributed mosquito nets to over 1000 dwellers in Makoko. The project also included the distribution of food supplies to these wonderful people. This first project typifies our belief in helping families because healthy families birth healthy children.
Away from Makoko, we continued down to our final stop in Okeafa, Isolo where Graceland Schools is located. The school, in this second project, served as a representation of schools in the Lagos State educational system. It was also an important landmark for our Founder, who served there as a National Youth Corps member in her formative years.
We believe that education must include skills to aid a child survive in the harsh economic realities of the world as we know it. In that regard, the students were taken on critical thinking, problem solving, financial literacy, mental toughness, and humanity, as the essential skills required for a complete education.
The best students recognized by the school’s grading system were offered student scholarships for their next academic year. The best teachers with unreserved and notable impact were also acknowledged and appreciated with gifts.
The smiles on the faces of the children and other people whose lives we impacted with this project is enough fuel to do more. Contact
WeCare4UAfrica today to see how you can be part of this amazing journey.
