The Little School Under the Mango Tree

Life as a volunteer in Nigeria teaches gratitude.  It makes you realise how much we sometimes take for granted and it makes you stop and appreciate the little things that happen every day.

Abdul Tashiu is a volunteer that I had the pleasure of meeting when I was in Kafanchan.  He's a twenty six year old Fulani boy whose volunteering story really stands out from the crowd.  From a very young age he was committed to education.  He traveled two hours each day for primary school and was away from home for twelve hours a day to manage the commute for secondary school.  He was the first in his community to graduate and his parents worked very hard to save enough money for him to go to college to study teaching.

Sadly his dreams were shattered when it turned out that the college he enrolled in was a scam; all the money was lost and there was nowhere for him to study.  It also created a rift with his parents who weren't sure if he'd squandered his tuition fees.

Abdul isn't one to give up however.  With the support of the Fantsuam Foundation he achieved his Diploma in Information Technology.  He also got involved with the Gaiya National Volunteer Program which equipped him with the skills to mobilize and facilitate change.

Abdul embarked on two projects to support his community; a clinic and a local school.  While rallying to raise funds for the buildings, "The Little School Under the Mango Tree" sprang to life.  Determined to encourage learning within his community, three teaching staff and sixty five children attended outdoor classes under the shade of a tree.  The number of children has now increased to eighty.

 

 

Funding for the projects to date has primarily come from lumber sales and donations.  The start of the wet season this year damaged much of the recent progress made on the school.  As always, Abdul and the children's resolve for education was a force to be reckoned with.  In his own words "Problem can either make you or break you.  The hammer that breaks glass can shape steel.  It's up to you whether to be glass or steel.  Have a will power of steel and a vision of glass."

 

 

Recently, Abdul's enthusiasm and tenacity saw him win two awards as part of the International Year of the Volunteer (an Award of Excellence and Volunteer of the Year).  Now he's shooting for the stars and hoping to be part of President Obama's Forum for Young African Leaders.  Go for gold Abdul... I adore your spirit!

As I write this tonight, it breaks my heart that Abdul and his family have been caught up in Nigeria's election violence.  Four of his brothers have been killed, their house burnt down and many of his family are still missing.  Who knows what's become of "The Little School Under the Mango Tree."

Before sharing this tragic news with me today, Abdul's first thought was to ask whether I was safe.

We should all take a lesson in gratitude, courage and determination.  Stay strong Abdul!

I Promise Fresh Air

"I assure you of fresh air" is one of the popular campaign slogans for President Goodluck Jonathan that has caused me some amusement in the lead up to today's first electoral polls.  Nigeria has been big on the uptake of the saying "a breath of fresh air" but it's certainly been somewhat twisted as though filtered by a little game of Chinese whispers. There's nothing more gratifying than receiving the compliment "you're such fresh breath to me!"

So in keeping with the popular theme, the "Coalition for Fresh Air in Nigeria" has erected many a billboard reminding us that Goodluck "is the messiah sent to bring fresh air to all Nigerians."  At face value, this is one mighty electoral promise!  Check out the state of our air in these photos.

Putting literal translations aside, there still seems to be some confusion though.  Since President Goodluck Jonathan has been in power since the May-2010 death of the former elected leader Umaru Yar'Adua, it's hard to see how a vote for him is a vote for new politics.

But as I woke up this morning on this important day in Nigerian democratic history, the clouds had lifted and the message was clear.  Non-essential businesses are closed and travel is banned for the next three voting Saturdays.  It's pitched as a means to control security and ensure a peaceful process but it got me wondering whether anyones thought about the green implications.  Maybe the People's Democratic Party really can promise "fresh air" in shutting down business and keeping the countries 158 million people off the roads?