Be the hand of hope.
Written By: Otto Orondaam
It was on the 19 day of May 2012, myself and
over hundred other young, impact driven
volunteers gathered with senior officials from
over 15 different governmental and Non-
governmental organizations, community
elders and many guests to enroll 118 children
into 3 Schools. These kids, although they
looked malnourished and some abandoned,
were filled with so much intelligence. We
never knew the impact of what we were doing
until that Saturday morning when we watched
tears drop down the eyes of their parents/
caregivers and saw how the atmosphere was
filled with pouring emotions.
I sat down and watched these kids from afar as
they presented a cultural dance in appreciation
of what had been done for them. I could barely
identify them, as they had been totally
transformed. They looked so different from
the kids we had been with in the slum for
months. I couldn’t believe they were the same
children we saw playing without clothes and
swimming in the brackish water.
They were well dressed in their new school
uniforms with backpacks and had smiles all
over their faces. Sotiana, one of my very
favorite beneficiary spotted me and ran
towards me, she grabbed me and wouldn’t let
go. Her mum was late and she was abandoned
by her dad to roam the streets of the slum
selling fish. She was 13years old and for
8years, she had never seen the walls of a
classroom. I held her and tried to get her back
to the others children but she held me tight
with tears rolling down her cheeks. Although
she looked small and couldn’t express herself,
but i could see gratitude written all over her
face.
As we distributed their school kits according
to the names on the enrollment list, we were
caught up in another dilemma. Other groups
of children who were friends and siblings of
our beneficiaries stood looking sad, depressed
and rejected. They also needed the same
opportunity. They needed to be given a chance
to have a bright future. They looked desperate
yet helpless. I could do nothing at this point
but watch in pains. Rather than feeling
fulfilled after the successful enrollment
ceremony, I went back home sad and broken.
The thoughts kept running through my mind
and their voices couldn’t just cease to echo in
my ears.
“Uncle you did not give me bag”, “Aunty I also
want to go to school” “Aunty me, Aunty me,
Uncle me”, were the words they spoke in their
local language, which was translated by our
community volunteers.
Sometimes, we complain of not having
enough, but we are blessed beyond our
imagination to give a million folds. We should
count ourselves really opportune if we can
read this message. Several times, we try not to
care about those less privileged than we are,
but we will always need that help from those
more privileged than we are.
Few days later, we began the monitoring and
evaluation stage of the project and then
decided to go back into the slum, forfeit our
jobs, sacrifice our weekdays, train community
youths, organize series of outreaches,
advocacy visits and after rigorous screening
and verification exercise we finally have 200
more children who are willing and desperately
waiting to join their mates in school.
It has been a journey worthwhile, a journey of
hope and fulfillment, a road filled with
challenges and setbacks yet we stayed
steadfast and strong. It really feels inspiring
seeing the number of volunteers increase
everyday. Volunteers, who are willing to take
a stand for change and act, rather seat indoors
and complain. Young ladies and gents who will
take off their jackets, roll up their jeans and
jump into the slum just to secure the future of
disadvantaged children.
However we have now gotten to another
juncture where we quickly need to go across
the hurdles. We have been through this before
and we believe it wouldn’t be difficult this
time around. Can we please give these kids the
hope they desire?
Yes! We can play our own role and talk to
others to play theirs. It costs N30,000 (Thirty
thousand Naira only) to sponsor a child for a
year and N6Million Naira for 200 Children. Yes,
we can do this and just like always, we remain
absolutely accountable to every sponsor,
donor or partner and we believe that together
we can make a difference in their lives.
All donations will be made into the account of
our respected professional partner, Bethesda
Child Support Agency.
Account Details: Bethesda Child Support/
Slum 2 School Project
Account Number; 1012994165
Any branch of Zenith Bank
Follow us on twitter @slum2school and
@otto_orondaam
Please for more information send an SMS to
08063477974 or email to
slumtoschool@gmail.com