With the current economic hardship, several children are finding it difficult to return to school as the new academic year begins. Parents have complained that the lack of resources had prevented their children from resuming on the first day of school. Realities like this have led to an increasing number of drop-outs from primary and secondary school.
In response, United Airlines in partnership with Slum2School Africa, spent three days providing support to the most marginalized children across remote villages and urban slums in Lagos.
From September 11 to 13, a team of United Airlines management and staff from the United States, United Kingdom, Ghana, and Nigeria, together with Slum2School volunteers and staff, embarked on a journey to reach over a thousand children and provide them with needed school supplies, including school bags, exercise books, mathematical sets, pencil packs, crayon, and several other learning materials, to kick off the new academic year.
Day one began in Slum2School’s pioneer community in the Lagos mainland called Makoko, where Slum2School Africa has supported over 23,000 children, youths, and families since 2012.
The team from United Airlines spent the day visiting the children across the local schools, which Slum2School supports, and also toured the community in what was described as a life-changing experience by Jermell Stills, a United Airlines Community Manager from the US.
The children were very excited to receive their school supplies, and the community and school leaders equally showed deep appreciation for the very impactful gesture.
The following day the team to the remote island of Saga in Epe, where they encountered firsthand the daily challenges children face, including a grueling 35-minute trek to and from school, often having to wade through water barefoot.
On the final day, the team was welcomed into the Tarkwa Bay community with traditional cultural performances, including energetic dances and spoken word poetry from the children.
Grace Harris, a member of the United Airlines team, shared her reflections after the final day in Tarkwa Bay.
“I can see a lot of good learning going on here: vocational training, art, home economics, and so much more. These are activities many children out there don’t have access to, but Slum2School is making it possible. The joy and optimism these kids radiate is a big lesson for all of us.”
Oluwatomi Bola-Sadipe, the Country Sales Manager for Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa at United Airlines, who led the United Airlines team, expressed her gratitude to everyone involved.
“What seemed like a mission impossible is now a mission accomplished,” she remarked, appreciating every single person who contributed to the success of the event.
Orondaam Otto, the founder and Executive Director of Slum2School Africa, also shared his gratitude to the United Airlines team, volunteers, and everyone who made the journey possible.
“We’ve touched many lives on this journey, but there’s still so much more to do,” Orondaam said.
“Let’s continue to come together, because there are millions of children waiting for their chance to be seen, heard, and supported.”
