Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. In prioritizing education, the government needs to do more with funding education in order to provide the citizens quality and inclusive education.
The Yes, We Are Winning Foundation commemorated the #IDE2023 with a symposium to discuss the theme: “To invest in people, prioritize education”. It was a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful futures.
The Yes, We Are Winning Foundation embarked on her annual educational scholarship program, tagged “Project 555” for the 2022 academic session with distribution of study kits to selected Primary and Secondary schools within the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos state.
The Project 555 is an Educational Scholarship Program that is recognised and supported by the Lagos SUBEB. It is a scholarship project that targets indigent students in selected public primary and secondary schools in Lagos and other states of the country. The annual event is usually supported by individuals who are passionate about ensuring that education is accessible to all children in line with the Sustainable Development Goal SDG 4.
On the Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th of September, 2022, The Yes, we are Winning Foundation visited a total number of 13 schools and distributed total of 870 notebooks, 80 textbooks to a total of 84 beneficiaries. Furthermore, as our custom, we took to mentoring and counselling the students to be worthy ambassadors by inculcating excellence in their studies.
In the 2022 project, we extended the scholarship to Ibadan by providing over 21 textbooks and 70 exercise books to the young dancers of the Chrysolite Dance Crew. A grateful note from the children, “God still answers prayers’’, if you know how much those books and textbooks cost now, you will say a word of prayer to the foundation that donated it to us….” -The Chrysolite Crew
Indeed, the economic hardship bites hard on everyone, yet we believe that the little you can offer will make a great impact in the lives of needy. We can sure do much more with your little help.
The Chrysolite Children Dancers, in Ibadan, Nigeria
Special thanks to all our sponsors, and to Lagos State SUBEB.
As I stood, brimming with smiles and watching in admiration as the kids dance to fun-filled music from DJ Success, the thoughts that crossed my mind was, “What if we hadn’t come?” We had fun… Both children and facilitators were treated to a beautiful and fun-filled party that exhilarated and inspired them to celebrate life in spite of their conditions.
The decision to visit the Lagos State Rehabilitation Center, Owutu-Ikorodu, Lagos, to celebrate Children’s day was impromptu as we had initially planned to visit one of the correctional homes as our custom is. Ahlaja Oseni, the Coordinator of the Children section of the centre was full of gratitude for the choice of the centre for the international children’s day celebration.
The Lagos State Rehabilitation centre, Owutu-Ikorodu, Lagos State, is a home for the destitute, mentally derailed and special children. It includes beggars and destitute picked up from the streets of Lagos, some of which consist of mentally derailed persons and children with autism and other special health cases. These people are well cared for and trained with relevant skills including fashion, craft, horticulture, catering etc.
The centre occupies a large expanse of land located on the Owutu-Isawo road of Ikorodu North-east of Lagos state is a special school funded by the state government and supported by generous individuals. The special school which was built to accommodate 500 special individuals, who would be trained and empowered in relevant skills is obviously achieving its aims. This initiative is achieving the efforts of the government in the reducing mental health crises and poverty which has made many homeless and destitute.
Speaking with one of the staff, the cost of running this facility is huge and majorly funded by the state government. However, the challenges are so enormous as provision of drugs always falls short of the requirements and this has been responsible for why some victims of mental health crisis relapse and some who were returned got worst than when they were discharged.
We are really impressed by what the government is doing in the area of the social welfare of the citizens and fostering a sane and healthy environment. We encourage NGOs and patriotic individuals to visit the special rehabilitation centre and support the government on this laudable project.
We are pleased to see the children celebrate the children’s day amidst fun and pageantry. Special thanks to the management of the school for the warm reception and partnership.
Special thanks to Mcdammy Foods who made the ocassion more exciting by surprising the children with a cake and drinks. A big shout to Fun planet who also spiced the occasion with amazing entertainment, I bet you, the children had the best time of their lives
Happy Children’s day to all children of the world, especially those special children.
In February 2020, Omowuni Blessing Oyewole (Shona) matriculated as an undergraduate at the Polytechnic, Ede Osun State with the support of the Yes, We Are Winning Foundation. Though with a physical disability, Shona who uses a wheel chair never relented on her desire to further her education.
Her determination to succeed motivated the foundation to offer her scholarship to study Nutrition & Dietetics. Today, we are proud to celebrate Shona who has completed her National Diploma (ND1) at the Polytechnic Ede.
Omowunmi Shona on her convocation day at the Polytechnic Ede in 2020
According to her, “Disability is This-ability.” Omowunmi believes that her disability is never a limitation to her success in life. She was certain that she would overcome the challenges of going to school with her inability to walk. Omowunmi wants everyone living with disability to never give up on themselves, but to be determined to succeed as she is. “Suicide is not an option”, she enthused!
Omowunmi on the day of her final exams at The Polytechnic Ede.
Congratulations to you the Mum, her siblings and her friends who stood by her all the way. Congratulations to Omowunmi! The foundation is with you all the way, and we wish you more wins in your future endeavours!