We often say children are the leaders of tomorrow but in today’s Nigeria, the kids do not stand a chance. Visit cities like Lagos and you will see little kids who hawk all sorts of objects on highways from dawn to dusk.
The dangers of not educating the young ones and securing a brighter future for them cannot be overemphasized. Here is a message from the The Destiny Child Foundation; this is a message of hope which should not be disregarded in any way but should spur us all into action:
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They are over 10.5million Nigerian children out of school, what can you, I and others can do about it now???
18% of the world’s out-of-school children are Nigerians; the largest globally. Bidemi is a part of that statistical class that consists of over 10.5 million Nigerian children. He is a twelve year old child who spends his morning time hawking plantain chips on the Lekki-Epe Expressway defying the elements to fend for himself and an aged grandmother with whom he has lived all his life. In the evenings, he arms himself with a double-sided piece of foam attached to a long stick and a bottle of detergent water with holes pierced at the top to let out the water.
You know Bidemi, he is the child that approaches your car in traffic and begs to help you rid your windshield of dirt. Sometimes you turn away, disappointed at the failure of the government, wishing you could do more to help. At other times you hand over a twenty naira note; all the while you wonder what hope he has roaming on the street without care, education or guidance. You are concerned that he might grow up to join an armed robbery gang, all the while convinced that nothing good can come from him.
Bidemi is a part of another class; he is a part of a class of impoverished children that The Destiny Trust is inviting you to help put into schools. Through the 1000 Helping Hands campaign, The Destiny Trust reminds us that we can make enormous impact on the next generation of Nigerians on the street and poor communities without breaking the bank. By giving at least N1,000 and inviting your friends to do same, you can help raise N1million to support the education of 100 children comprising out-school-children from two disadvantaged communities in Lagos State and rehabilitated street children who are currently under the continuing care of The Destiny Trust.
Although 90% of the children will be enrolled in tuition-free public schools, the Destiny Trust will be providing back-to-school materials such as uniform, school bags and books for the identified children. To enhance the quality of learning, the Trust is introducing an Afterschool Assistance Programme (AAP). The Programme will complement school work by helping these children, whose parents are predominantly illiterate, with home work. Teachers at the AAP will also focus on helping children with significant learning difficulties.
The #1000 Helping Hands Campaign is an initiative of The Destiny Trust, a social intervention to provide care, rehabilitation, education and empowerment to vulnerable children. Since its lead-off project in 2012 (the Kuramo Intervention) the Trust has been providing an integrated range of assistance to children in need including food, shelter, education and guidance from its Residential Learning and Rehabilitation Centre located at Bogije Village in Ibeju-Lekki. The founding members of the organization are young professionals from various companies. The Board of Trustees is constituted under the Chairmanship of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, S.A.N, former Attorney-General of Lagos State and Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Create a future for out-of-school children and for Nigeria. Join the campaign today. #1000HelpingHands #1000giveN1000 #thedestinytrust.
To give:
The Destiny Trust Children Foundation
GT Bank Plc, Acc. No: 0124940702
www.destinytrust.org
Give online at: www.234give.com
Follow @TheDestinyTrust
For more on The Destiny Trust’s impact and this Campaign, watch the video below:
