The assignment was about community mobilization- encouraging a community of people to address an issue and see that they worked together towards the solution. Professor Ojebode told the fifty of us in the Communication Development class that we were to choose a primary school within the University of Ibadan campus or outside in the city to do a mobilization project about hand washing. Why it is important for kids to wash their hands, when they should wash and what they can wash with if there is no water. My group decided to take another route. We chose St. Matthews Primary School in Ajibode, a neighborhood just on the other side of a very threatening bridge far out in the UI campus. Our topic was wearing shoes, why it’s important and what can happen if you do not wear shoes. Many school children in Nigeria walk barefoot outside regularly.
Women carrying loads, starting the journey over the bridge that connects UI campus at the botanical gardens and Ajibode.
If you step too close to the sides, this is what you could fall into. During the rainy season, the water level reaches the bridge.
My group members walking back towards campus after a very successful morning at the school.
I’m surprised at how emotional I got watching this. I think that in providing aid to the third world, people only think in terms of money, but basic things like shoes, pens and notebooks are so desperately needed and in some cases more important than money. I know Hanson (haha) in association with Tom’s shoes do the whole shoe donating thing. But, I’m not sure what areas of Africa they cover.
When my friend last went traveling around Africa he asked all his facebook friends to donate books and pens and he took a suitcase of that with him to give to kids.
I think this is an idea worth exploring. Often, these people have to choose between food and education. Food wins out and rightfully so, but it would be great if something can be done to eradicate the need to make that choice.
Wow!
I feel like weeping, cos this is acute poverty in a country that is the 15th largest producer of crude oil. And surprisingly, like femi hinted, if you go to some parts of Abuja and Lagos, you will think you are in London.
Well done Titi. This is a great project. And PS: You dance well 🙂
@ade, sad to see there are still dumb, bitter people like you out there. what changes are YOU actually imparting to the community? stop throwing sand at the gesture of kindness and humanitarian act these students have done. if you don’t have any positive contribution, why don’t you just shut your gob?
@titi, keep up the good work.its really sad to see the level of poverty in our land in the midst of plenty. i hope you now understand why a lot of nigerians would rather be anywhere else but nigeria.
@michele, nice idea. an avenue that can be explored.
You are right. My comment should have been a suggestion rather than a criticism.
Wow! Love the video. Have you thought about reaching out to a company like Toms Shoes? Came to mind for me as I watched. Great work! So proud of you!
Loves,
Michele
@Titi, great job on the communiity outreach. Yes the level of poverty in many parts of Nigeria especially the villages can be pretty alarming. Unfortunately not a lot can be done about that unless the economic climate in Nigeria improves. However, in this case there’s also some degree of ignorance involved and as a result such community awareness outreaches like this one can make an impact. In particular, talking not just to the kids but to the parents as well – like you guys did – should be effective. Keep up the good work!
@Ade, did you even watch the video? How can giving out shoes (very basic ones at that) to kids who wear torn slippers or no shoes at all be a ‘drive’ towards consumerism?! I mean really! And your sarcastic tone makes your comment much worse.
Eco-friendly shoes for poverty-stricken kids! I think you need to get your head out of the clouds and stop having knee-jerk reactions to basic acts of human kindness that have nothing to do with politics nor any other agenda.
Phew! I had to get that out.
thank you very much for that, sum1 needed to tell him, cudnt hv said it better myself, what a douche. Offf!
No I did not watch the video, only read the blog. As I replied to femi above, I should have worded my statement differently.
Have you heard of teaching a man to fish rather than giving him fish?
Look at it this way. What happens when the shoe needs to be replaced? They go out and buy another. But if giving them shoes is the next best thing I’m not complaining. As I said, I should have worded my comment differently.
Being Eco-friendly has nothing to do with my head in the clouds. Eco-friendliness is only marketed that way because someone has to make money. You got native peoples in the jungles of Brazil who are Eco-friendly than we are.
I grew up in Nigeria, those kids aren’t poverty-stricken, they might be struggling, but I’m positive they aren’t struggling to buy their own shoes. Some of those kids probably had shoes, misplaced them and their parents refused to buy them another for being careless. Don’t paint their situation any worse than it is.
Finally, do you think if I was passing by and saw the act of kindness the U.I. kids were doing, I’ll walk up to them and make that comment especially the way I did? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I’m tired of you guys making a big deal out of everything. I bet if you were passing by, and saw the same thing you won’t see it in the same touching moment as you do now. Who’s head is in the clouds again?
Something happened to my reply to Del
I was moved to tears to see such poverty especially in the midst of plenty. As politicians acquire massive wealth they inadvertently impoverish their people and do so without conscience. It is really sad! Many of these kids come to school hungry also. Maybe you could organize the importance of eating breakfast and provide them with food! Like Ade said, this does not solve the problem but it at least helps a bit!! which is far more than the leaders are doing!
Great!! another drive to make Nigerians consumers. Not wearing shoes sucks. Turning them into consumers might be far worse, like they aren’t enough already.
I’ll be interested if someone organized a workshop that shows them how to make their own Eco-friendly shoes. I’m tired of all these nibbling at the surface of problems which create their own problems.