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project M.A.D

posted on Saturday, March 22, 2008 06:56 PM

PROJECT M.A.D
Am I crazy or what?
I was born, bred and “buttered” in the city. All my life I’ve been very comfortable and known the simple luxuries life has to offer. But now faced with the choice of continuing to enjoying these luxuries and residing in a village, I have opted for village life.

Am I crazy or something?
I was deployed to Bacita village in March 2007 to serve as a teacher during the mandatory one year serve (NYSC). Taking a survey of the educational sector of the area, I discovered the presence of seven secondary schools but inspite of all these schools, a deplorable reading culture and an alarming rate of illiteracy permeates the environment.
To contribute my quota and ease this problem, howbeit little, I initiated the BookWorm Youth Centre to serve as a youth friendly centre which the young people of Bacita can visit, have their minds challenged and also get the opportunity which children in rural areas rarely get.

Am I crazy or what?
At the end of the service year the norm is for all successful participants to go in search of ‘greener pastures’. But me? Following my instincts, I have decided to stay back in Bacita. “why?”; “are you crazy?”; “what do you want in that backward place?” These questions and more, people ask me with shock on their faces.
It’s true that Bacita is backward but that’s why I want to stay. The main reason people are leaving is a major attraction for me.
My experience as an English teacher in this area opened me up to a lot of heart rending experiences- imagine Cecilia, a girl of twelve and a first year student in a secondary school unable to construct coherent English grammar both in language and in speech. There are countless others with similar or worse educational experiences. Such is the plight of the rural child.
Listen, a part of me wants to go to Lagos, Abuja or any of the big cities. I want to go and make a fortune for my self but no, posterity will not forgive me if I abandon these ones to time and chance. The Youth Centre I Set up there is not as functional as I would have loved it to be many young people do not yet realize the importance of getting involved in something like this. Besides, their parents would prefer them to stay in the market stalls after school hours and on weekends.

PROJECT M.A.D is an attempt to Make A Difference in Bacita and her environs; it is also a crazy attempt to Make A Dive for the academic and social life of these young ones, which is going in a downward spiral, by snatching them from their parents’ market stalls, unproductive pastimes and subtle vices into the Youth Centre and by launching a “Learning to read” program.
I experimented a little of the proposed “Learning to Read” program on a few students and the results? Joy on the face of Cecilia when she was finally able to put the alphabets together to spell LAB; a resounding applause from fellow students at Cecilia’s success; joy in my heart.

How do I intend to single handedly initiate this? Truth is I can’t. I need all the help I can lay my hands on. You can support project M.A.D in any of the following ways:

IDEAS
 Do you know any materials that can be used for learning to read?
 What can I do to attract the youths to the youth centre?
 What I can give the parents in exchange for their participation at the centre?
CASH, KIND OR BOTH
 Plastic chairs
 Television set
 Dvd player
 Games
 Books
 Computers
 Musical instruments
 Educative posters
Support BookWorm Youth Centre Bacita and watch your dividends grow.

Bio-data
Name: Funmilola Alice Ojo
Address: Yo’shua College, Bacita. Kwara State, Nigeria.
Qualification: B.A(HONS) English Language
Mail me: shaquille05@yahoo.com
Call me: +2348038752062

Comments

Tommy Hutchinson

Sunday, March 23, 2008 05:14 AM

This is really interesting project. Many of the things you need are probably easier to source locally although somethings may be accessible online or sent via email. I hope we can profile your project more as it develops.

Kirstie Turp

Thursday, March 27, 2008 04:47 PM

Hey you crazy lady I love what you are doing! And crazy is the best way to be - I should know... I'd love to help you - I've got six years teaching experience (English Language)let's see what we can come up with. I'd love to come and see for myself and help you out. My email is: kirstieturp@yahoo.co.uk Best of evry thing to you xxx

Barry Crisp

Sunday, August 17, 2008 11:15 PM

Hi Funmilola. This is a very interesting project! I've now put you as a featured blogger on the i-genius homepage! I also believe a lot of the things you need can be sourced locally! Good luck, Barry.

Philip Daoud

Monday, August 18, 2008 07:37 AM

Hi Funmilola, An interesting and inspiring project! I think the key success factor of this project would be your Craziness and enthusiasm, so don't ever lose them! As Tommy and Barry mentioned, I believe that most of the items you’ve mentioned can be sourced locally. As for what you can provide to the children at your center to read, I would like to direct you to a very nice and informative website of the British Council. It is free and it targets teachers, parents, and children. It focuses on teaching English with various tools, games, and activities. The site is www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish.htm I think this site can be very helpful and informative. I come from ICT and Project management background, If you feel that I can help in any way please let me know. If you would like to create a website for your center that might be helpful for you to raise funds please let me know I would love to help in any possible way. Philip philipdaoud@gmail.com

Mbaskei Martin Obono

Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:43 PM

My Dear Sister, I tot i and members of our organization were the only MAD people...until i saw what you are doing after i posted an article on MADness. Well, the cosmos speaks through all those who submits to the universal laws. I am deeply touched by your actions, I wish our government would only listen to you and give you a helping hand, but corruption may not let allow them. I know you seek no awards but expect something soonest, although this would surely not match the happiness you would derive from the faces of those children whose life you are changing. Here is a strategy that may work for you towards achieving the items you have written out. Approach the community leaders with your project and seek assistance from them, do not present to them a big budget. Secondly, you may need to contact the politicians at the local level like the councilors and House of assembly members, they are usually easy to approach, ask them to make personal contributions to your project and give them recognition in the youth centre - this is what they usually like. With this, you would be able to achieve some of the things you want from members of the community. I honestly wish i could help further. But do not hesitate in any area you feel me or our organization would be of benefit to you. Do take care my beloved sister in MADness, we sure would work something out soonest. Cheers!

Mbaskei Martin Obono

Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:48 PM

My Dear Sister, I tot i and members of our organization were the only MAD people...until i saw what you are doing after i posted an article on MADness. Well, the cosmos speaks through all those who submits to the universal laws. I am deeply touched by your actions, I wish our government would only listen to you and give you a helping hand, but corruption may not let allow them. I know you seek no awards but expect something soonest, although this would surely not match the happiness you would derive from the faces of those children whose life you are changing. Here is a strategy that may work for you towards achieving the items you have written out. Approach the community leaders with your project and seek assistance from them, do not present to them a big budget. Secondly, you may need to contact the politicians at the local level like the councilors and House of assembly members, they are usually easy to approach, ask them to make personal contributions to your project and give them recognition in the youth centre - this is what they usually like. With this, you would be able to achieve some of the things you want from members of the community. I honestly wish i could help further. But do not hesitate in any area you feel me or our organization would be of benefit to you. Do take care my beloved sister in MADness, we sure would work something out soonest. Cheers!

MOSHOOD (MOSH) FOLORUNSHO

Saturday, August 23, 2008 12:56 PM

In Educare Trust, there are three questions that usually follow the MAD syndrome. The questions are: 1. Are you MAD? 2. Are you MAD enough? 3. What is your MAD legacy? Lola Ojo has answered these three questions correctly from her intention and actual behaviour. For example, a company that puts less than 1% of its annual profit after tax into Corporate Social Responsibility is MAD but not MAD enough and that could be a tiny drop in a sea of ignorance. If there is no proper baseline study for the application of that less than 1% CSR, that will become a bad MAD legacy and also a mismatch of CSR. Lola Ojo did a proper baseline study before coming up with her noble idea. She is also MAD enough because of her robust background and what she now opted for. The recent work we did together could be found here: http://www.nifi.org/news/news_detail.aspx?itemID=11953&catID=24. It's under Educare Trust (Nigeria)- A Workshop on Naming and Framing Issues For Democratic Problem Solving. We should rally round Miss Funmilola Ojo in nuturing this germinating seed. Like she rightly said, invest your in the less priviledged youth and watch your dividends grow. A FORTUNE not shared is unFORTUNATE and a misFORTUNE. If this becomes a featured blogger, this will be the second time that an issue surrounding the establishment of youth centres in every ward in Nigeria will achieve this feat