Slum2School enrols 510 out-of-school children from 11 communities into 5 schools accross Lagos State

Slum2School enrols

510 out-of-school children from 11 communities into 5 schools accross Lagos State

Every year Slum2School Africa identifies vulnerable out-of-school children across several under-served communities and States in Nigeria, the volunteers and partners raise resources, funds and develop new partnerships to provide scholarships and enroll the children into schools where they are educated and supported through school.

Since 2012 Slum2School has enrolled over 1660 children into schools and supported over 32,000 children through various programs and this year was no different.

The Fundraising campaign to sponsor one thousand out of school children into school was officially kick-started on Saturday the 18th of August 2018 and was themed #AThousandDreams. The goal was to raise resources to enroll a thousand children into school for the 2018/2019 academic session and on the 27th of October Slum2School successfully enrolled 510 out-school-children between the ages of 4 years and 15 years into schools for the first time.

The enrollment ceremony was officially opened by the Board Director of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, and in attendance were the founder of Slum2School, Orondaam Otto, board members like Dr Modupe Adefeso and several volunteers, several board members from the Ministry of Education, Directors and Board members from SUBEB, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Ogun State Ms Rele Adesina, the Country Director for Dutche bank, Mrs Abiola Azeez, Professor Abiola Awosika and several admirable personalities.

Acceptance letters and enrolment cards were given to successfully selected children across communities like Iwaya, Sogunro, Makoko, Aiyetoru, Tarkwabay, etc and each was presented with their school bags, school supplies, and kits.

Various partners for the campaign were in attendance and hundreds of volunteers were equally in attendance. Eat n Go Nigeria Limited, who launched a fundraising campaign for Slum2School using their Coldstone brand were present with boxes of Domino’s pizza, and hundreds of Cold Stone Ice-cream and Pinkberry Yoghurt for the children, while also presenting a cheque of N2.4 million to sponsor more children to school.

A major highlight of the event was the tour into the community to visit some beneficiaries and among the important guests that were present were Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Co-founder of Transparency International and former word bank Vice president, Meirav Arlosoroff, Senior commentator and editor, The Marker daily newspaper, Gary Sussman and a host of others local and international volunteers.

Slum2School Enrollment Ceremony for 2018 was very colorful and inspiring and as always the volunteers put in time and energy to make sure the event was a success. Over the coming weeks more enrolments will take place in communities across Port Harcourt, Abuja, Borno and Ibadan.

”This is an amazing job you are doing. Being a product of the slum communities myself, I have been there and can attest to the pains and agony of leaving in a slum community without basic amenities and necessities of life like hygenic water, road, light, healthcare and education. Growing up from Railway line, Ijora Badia Community is much of a childhood traumatic experience that will go down with me to my grave.

Thank you so much for bringing hope to the children of the extremely poor, orphans and vulnerable children of the slum communities in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. You have inspired me to take an action and am willing to be part of the partners that will expand the scope of this vision.

Your single intervention among others in Makoko had really brought publicity and public sympathy to the community and have inspire the faith, hope and aspirations of the Children you have enrolled into school. If not; Lagos State Government is only interested in destruction and demolitions of the slums instead of developing it alone with the slum dwellers, without adequate notification, without relocation plan, without adequate compensation and negotiations with the community elders.

Slum2School is not only showing the gaps in our educational systems in the State but also showing the huge distance between the have and the have not! Your project is creating life and hope of peaceful existence to not only the Children but entire families and communities of the slum dwellers. Prosperity of a nation is not only judged by how much the Government cares for her rich and super connected people; but how much she cares about her very vulnerable, poor and weak population like the slum dwellers. God bless you guys.

I will have to send you an official mail with possible collaboration.
Victor Olaore Omoshehin