A WORD

Though I term it, a word but then it’s just a few thoughts to those who in future would like to embark on a project and the circumstances prove defiant to you and it seems that the cause is lost. Just bear in mind and in your heart that you can do it if you are determined. Forget the how and keep pressing on. Never, ever give up.

 

CHALLENGES.

CHALLENGES.

1.      The project did not start on the proposed date because there was an incident in the community that led to the death of 4 youths

2.      Language was a challenge as I had to rely on a volunteer for me to be able to communicate effectively with most of the indigene of the community

3.      Unavailability of a hand on computer for use was also a challenge

4.      Getting the funds to carry out the project in Osogbo, of course was very hectic. This was the major bulldozer in clearing the land.

PROJECT SUMMARY

PROJECT SUMMARY

In summary, a total of:

Ø  25 students between the ages of 9-19 years benefitted from the English lessons.

Ø  15 youths took part in the skill acquisition training

Ø  80 adult took part of the sensitization on the Lassa fever and the environment

Ø  45 person where registered on U-report in the community

Ø  35 mosquitoes net were distributed

Ø  6-starter pack was donated to the participants that took part in the skill acquisition training.

Ø  25 students were given materials which will help improve their English.

These materials include exercise books, story books, text books as well as writing materials.

      In view of this, I made an arrangement to put a sustainable plan by engaging members of the community especially the elders and the youth in having this project.

Those who supported us

The project wouldn’t have been a success if not for people and organisations like

1.     VARCE (Value Re-Orientation for Community Empowerment)

2.      Kate School of Kraft

3.      Macmillan Publishers

4.      Enny Pretty Make-Up Studio

5.      Imoukhuede Joshua

6.      Anita Agbakoba

7.      Corps member Avis

8.  Rokit Media

THE INVISIBLE TEAM

THE INVISIBLE TEAM

Every coach needs an opportunity to express his mentorship skills into the lives of people and these people need to function together rightly to achieve their desired goal. For a project such as this, though termed personal community development service, I needed a team of top gamers to achieve the purpose to which the project was initiated. I call them the invisible team, not seen but heard. Heard, in terms of what they put in to produce lasting results and impressions.

Meet ALIMA ABEBEFE

    She is the Creative Director of Xtraordinale, her craft company. Gifted with her hands and passionate about helping, putting her best to the task, she speaks Yoruba language fluently making it very easy for her to work with the indigenes of the community and she was very happy to give her best in time, skills  and materials. She taught the bead making class and it was an intensive practical one she is indeed Xtraordinale.

Meet AMINAT UTUNU

Aminat is someone when you look at her at first glance you will know she is a staunch Muslim who is very particular about her Hijab which was a very long one for that matter. How I got her to be part of the project still amazes me, but it beats me that we still have individuals who would do anything to foster a great course. She is one of the few good corps members that I had met during the service year, despite her religion which I found to be very interesting. She is particular about social issues; we both gave the sensitization lecture in the community on Lassa fever and U-report. She was the English lesson teacher and was very fond with the children. In her own words, she said thanks for giving her the opportunity to impact lives and yes, she told me not to take a picture of her.

Meet BUNMI ADEBOWALE

   My neighbor as I will always call her, when I told her what I wanted to do and the challenges I was facing she went all out, she gave me some contacts and showed large interest in the project. Not to blow her horn but she is a professional makeup artist and she has a lot under her sleeve. She took her time to train the participants on make-up and different type, and gele-tying. She even came with her personal kit and accessories. Her smiles and gleeful expressions communicated to me especially in times when I felt the chips where down that everything will be alright.

Meet SAMUEL USORO

Amidst the teasing and the yabbing, the only Otondo - My name sake and my guy I say really performed his duties as the rugged mid-fielder that absorbed the pressures during the course of this project. He multi-tasked as the Cameraman and Mr. Logistics at the same time - truly one of a kind and my back patter (In the words of Timon “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. Words cannot describe his importance in the actualization of this project. Thumbs up, my guy!!

Meet RACHAEL WANOGHO

Hmm, Rachael. I really do not know how to start this but you know that special someone- Yeah, that’s Rachael. As I write this, I remember the days we will walk from offices to offices, shop to shop, banks, meeting people, explaining the reasons why we are doing what we are doing - seeking sponsorship. Apparently, she also did a personal project so she could easily relate with what I was going through. Countless time we went back to the drawing board, planning, thinking, re-strategizing especially when there was no inspiration and drive. She was there, when there was no fund and all doors seem shut; she was there, under the sun and rain she was there. When I needed prayers and encouragement she was there. yes, she is special like that and as I write this I’m doing this with a thousand smiles on my face and gladness in my heart and I’m thanking God I met someone like her. because she was a motivation

HEADS IN THE GAME

HEADS IN THE GAME

The project entailed 4 different categories of intensive development and training of the community members and stakeholders. They include;

1. Computer Education

2. Improving education

3. Skills acquisition

4. Environmental sustainability and sensitization

With our heads in the game of making progressive changes, the project is in a bid to affect the community in the following ways

1. Computer Education - This is geared at switching on ICT in the Olugun community in Osogbo. Teaching the importance of ICT as a tool for development and giving them practical knowledge on how to use the computers. This projected is targeted at youth between the age ranges of 15years to 25 years of age in the community.  At the end of this project youth from this community that took part in the training should be expected to have basic knowledge on computer programs like Microsoft word, Corel draw and others

2. Improving English Education – This is aimed at teaching English to individuals in the community who do not have good English communication skills especially  secondary school student between the age of 12 to 17 years, it entails organizing after school English class for about 50pupils.  We will have English teacher who are fluent in Yoruba language which is the main language of Olugun community, as well as some donation of English text book which can improve their grammar after the end of the program.

3. Skills acquisition – Empowering of women and youths of the Olugun community who play the greatest role in development,

reorienting them and empowering them with skills like bead making, make up, gele-typing etc. in total this program is meant to train 30 participant between the age of 16 years and above.

4. Environmental sustainability sensitization - Sensitizing the Olugun community on the importance of cleanliness, hygiene and environmental sustainability. Buying trash bags for 10 houses in the community and provision of 10 waste disposal bin which will be positioned at strategic position and the provision of 40 mosquito net which will be donated to 40 homes as well as mounting of proper disposal signs. This will help in creating awareness of the right place where waste can be dumped and how to properly dispose waste in the environment.

MEETING THE WHO’S AND WHO’S

MEETING THE WHO’S AND WHO’S

Remember the time when we got to final year and we started the journey of establishing and getting a project done in other to prove to the board of examiners that we were fit to be awarded that degree that just came in letters, meaning the B.Eng, B.Sc, B.A etc?

Well, I got to that bridge to which I had two choices, blowing it up or pretending the bridge didn’t exist in the first place and just turn right back. Getting the project to be approved was a huge task. The NYSC officials in charge more or less stalled the progress work of the project as I kept being dangled on a very thin thread. Bureaucracy was the order of the day and I thought to myself if this scheme was indeed interested in ensuring that the youth harness the platform we have been given to foster selfless service to humanity.

Amidst the hurdles, my project was approved January 2016, from the date of September 2015 that the proposal was submitted. Stepping out into the waters with both feet in, I didn’t care if I was going to sink but rather believed that I would swim. One of the hurdles I had to jump was the current economic crises that seemed to choke businesses, government Parastatals and individuals. Submitting the letters gave me the opportunity to know what it was like to face rejection and still hold your head high and smiling in the process.

However, I met some spirited individuals who were very encouraging and helpful in their little which contributed to the success of the project. The drive to do something tangible came from an inside force and not from outside elements.

GETTING STARTED

GETTING STARTED

At first, I thought this was going to be a walk in the park. As I was motivated, my spirit was lifted and I was excited feeling like a 10 year old who was just bought his first game of Pro-evolution soccer. But then, when reality struck, the caves seemed to be crashing down on me and at a point I felt like I was gasping for air while in the middle of the deep blue sea. This was a case of I do it or die trying but I knew it wasn’t possible to die while on the path of changing lives and fixing hopes that seemed tarnish. If I didn’t get it done, I wouldn’t be fulfilled and if I tried but didn’t finish, what then would the future hold for those who want to receive inspiration from the decisions that I made. Making choices did not seem easy without a sort of guidance from one chance person.

Olugun community is located in the south west of Nigeria in Osogbo city, Osun State.

Even inside the city itself the marginalization is present; there is a deep demarcation of the economic gap, the main highway of the city is built up with decent buildings, the main banks of Nigeria, medium and small business. However, that reality is pretty far from the one in the communities a few blocks away from the main highway.

Olugun community can be easily taken as another country inside the city, the environment changes dramatically just in a few blocks walking from the highway to the community’s territory. The conditions of living there proof the deepness of the economic gap between classes even within the same area. Olugun community’s economy is based on a small cyclic trade and exchange of basic products economy, which means that every single member of the community offers a specific product, service or benefit (such as hand work) for the community and the reproduction of this system is the key to the community’s subsistence.

Stirring the Waters

My passion has always been driven towards making an impact in the lives of humanity; from my days as an undergraduate I joined an organization that gave the opportunity to explore my potentials while impacting lives in the process. This organization is known as AIESEC.

    The time of Youth Service came and one goal was set aside which was basically to make an impact wherever that I found myself to be, whether in the camp or during the months of working at my Place of primary Assignment.

  On getting to Osogbo, which wasn’t a first time, my mind toured back to a particular community of interest – Olugun community. A friend of mine by the name Josh (Amazing guy) who had served in Osogbo at a certain time was a member of AIESEC while we were in school. He had started out a project in that same community which consist of Skill training for the youths (hairdressing, tailoring etc) and opportunity presented itself to me; being posted to Osogbo and I met the chief of the community. Chief Kayode Esuleke, a very interesting fellow who upon your first chance meeting would think he was quaint, proved very resourceful and offered all the necessary support that I required getting every aspect of the project on track and running in due course as expected.