Holding up my torch!

Many years before I got to know about the Olympics torch, I saw my self as a little girl holding up a torch so that others could see and find their way.

That picture of me I tucked away in the most sacred part of my heart. I never forgot it.  I couldn't forget it. Anytime I thought of it ,it left me with a sense of responsibility.  I did not know what that responsibility was and that left me many times in dilema. I was one who loved to do many things at once. 

In 2012, the Boko Haram insurgency broke out in  Yobe state, Northeastern Nigeria and my family was one of the many displaced.

I had a business and was working part-time with an NGO, so I was faring well economically.  All of that was abruptly stopped.

My husband eventually lost his job and we had to start from the scratch. Being displaced made me vulnerable. I was not used to being helped.  I preferred being on the giving than the receiving end.  So I struggled at first,  but as  things became more difficult , I was left with no choice  but to accept help.

My vulnerability made me aware of other's needs.  Not every one was as lucky as I was. Many never recovered because they had no one to help them. I saw how a little help from a friend or family could go a long way to make a difference. Sometimes help came from complete strangers who didn't expect anything in return. I  began to understand that  relational part of humans. We are meant to help and be helped.

That ,for me were  defining moments. There had to be a meaning . Life was  meant for more. It was beyond my personal comfort and that of my family. I remembered the vision of me holding out the torch and I knew  that  I was meant to hold out that torch to light up my path and then for others.  And as long as my hands hold the torch up, there would be light! Others could be helped because I found help and share with them.  The seed of Life Aid was planted.

Today my vision is helping the less privileged especially women and girls reach their potentials by providing the least help so that they inturn can change their communities.

This is so that the not so privileged can have a levelled ground to stand and find their place in life. Each one, if given opportunities, can thrive and contribute to making the world better for us all. 

It's a ripple effect sort of a thing. It starts with one and spreads out breaking the limitations and biases that unfortunate circumstances and the society have created.

And because I am sentimental about women and girls, I choose to hold up my torch for them. This gender has had a very rough ride since time immemorial. The patriachial systems of the world have taken their toll on them. Left to status quo, a woman may never reach the bar to be an equal to her male counterpart. The bar is set  almost out of her reach already. We see the discriminations against women and girls show in our norms and culture and even in some laws of some countries.

Against the odds, I dare to imagine a world where every woman and girl can dream and be able to birth their dreams. I see a world where they are empowered to create a life of their own choosing.

The key tool with which to bring about this change is Education. Both formal and informal.

With education, girls can know and exercise their rights, they can find their voices and speak up or speak out against injustice and they can develop themselves in leadership. 

An educated woman is a strong driver of positive change. She is empowered to change the fortunes of her family, community and nation. Her chances at being successful are increased. 

Thus my commitment  to form Purity clubs for girls where  at young ages ,they can learn life skills to help them navigate through life and combat challenges that are common to girls like early marriage, menstruation, self esteem, etc .

At the club, the girls get to share their experiences and learn from each other and still grow their bonds of friendship and solidarity . I use every opportunity I get to let girls know they have what it takes to be all they can be. With guidance, and that little push either by helping to raise their fees or providing them with menstrual sanitary napkin I get to close the wide gap of the number of girls in school compared to that of boys. I talk to parents and communities leaders on the importance of giving girls education and empowering women. 

I also commit to empowering women through teaching them business and financial skills. They are trained and given seed money to run businesses of their choice while being monitored until they are established.

The enormosity of my vision sometimes is like an unmoving mountain, but undaunted I forge ahead seeking partnerships, collaborations, funding and visibility to enable me hold my torch.

 For this vision to make impact the following will be needed.

For the purity clubs,  meeting venues are needed with adequate furniture. 

Reusable pads are needed for distribution to girls.

Funds for payment of fees for the girls who can not afford.

Office equipment ( camera, laptops  etc) to carry out quality and effective programs.

Funds to pay to volunteers and staff.

Funds to run trainings, seminars and workshops for women empowerment.

With these in place, girls can have peeks in to the endless possibilities that await them and  The women can change the fortunes of their families.