Since 2012 Slum2School says it has enrolled over 1660 children into schools and supported over 32,000 others through its various programmes since 2012.
Slum2School is, however, a volunteer-driven development organisation transforming the society by empowering underserved children in slums and remote communities with quality education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support to enable them to realise their full potential and become social reformers.
Founded in 2012, it recognises that there are severe shortcomings in the educational sector in Africa and in this area it is committed to transforming the lives of Africa’s most precious resource – her children.
‘’We provide educational scholarships, create safe learning spaces, use 21st century pedagogy and technology to improve learning outcomes and provide several other health and psychosocial supports for underserved children in slums and hard to reach communities.
‘’This is achieved by collaborating with the government, private sector, individuals, civil society organisations and other developmental agencies towards building a resourceful and sustainable network. Most importantly building a network of socially responsible community of volunteers committed to social reformation’’, the group says on its website.
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.
The fundraising campaign to sponsor one thousand out of school children into school was officially kick-started on Saturday, August 18, 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 October 27, 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 world 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 is always colourful and inspiring. As always, the volunteers put in time and energy to make sure the event succeeds.
