Activities Nigeria
Nigeria, by many known as the land of the black gold: oil. Nonetheless, Nigeria is not only rich in natural resources, it also has a tremendously rich culture to offer: a delicious cuisine, beautiful colorful clothing and an incredible hospitality towards strangers.
This rich culture is not often rewarded with financial means for development. Many children in Nigeria have never attended school or dropped out of school at an early age (see UNICEF’s website for the exact numbers). In the North of the country, terrorists regularly kidnap large groups of students from schools in order to use them as leverage to demand ransom.
In an outskirt of the capital Abuja, Dr Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke is managing the Dobbie School. The Dobbie School is a combined elementary, middle and high school. Despite being a professor at the University of Abuja, Dr Eke chooses to live on the school’s campus in solidarity with the young students and their parents. For him, their education is more important than his own comfort.
Tjeerd Harkema got to know Dr Eke in Nigeria during his studies in International Development. He was very impressed by the cheerful energy of the kids. Despite many deficiencies – a striking difference with Dutch schools which he was used to – the kids demonstrated a strong willingness to learn and develop. But, these kids lack the resources to fulfil their potential. Therefore, Tjeerd decided to contribute to raising funds for the kids at the Dobbie School, in cooperation with StandUp4Talent.
We are currently sponsoring 3 students at the Dobbie School: Precious, Excel and Emmanuela.
Precious (2010) is a real singing talent whilst being an A student.
She dreams of being a lawyer to help people in need of legal counseling. In particular, she wants to become a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In Nigeria, in order to be admitted to the bar, every person has to enroll to the Supreme Court.
Precious is in Junior Secondary School and studies several courses such as English and French Language, Mathematics, Civic Education, and Fine and Creative Arts.
Excel (2013) is also a talented singer and an excellent student.
He aspires to become a medical doctor in order to be able to heal people.
Excel is a pupil in Basic Education. His program consists of courses such as pre-vocational studies, Nigerian and English languages, Basic Science and Technology and Mathematics.
Emmanuela (2015) is a pupil in Basic Education. Her favourite course are Mathematics and Basic Science and Technology. And her talents include singing and drawing.
She dreams to be a commercial plane pilot to fulfil her desire to see the world. And she wants to use her income to support education of girls.
For the future, StandUp4Talent and Tjeerd hope to provide more funds and thus more opportunities for more kids at the Dobbie School. Will you help us?
