BUSAOSOWO FOUNDATION

The year 2020 has not been without challenges. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of physical activities were constrained. We started the year by continuing with our online project which is Project Inspire that we started in 2019. Project Inspire ran from January to December,2020. We interviewed 12 change makers who have collectively impacted 41,891 lives.  In June,2020 we began a one-month online awareness campaign on Learning Disabilities. We created animation videos educating the public about the signs of learning disabilities and ways parents can help their children improve in this regard. In July,we expanded the scope of Project Inspire to include Project Inspire Africa where we began to focus on collecting stories aside Nigeria. We interviewed social innovators from Zambia,Congo, Sierra Leone, Malawi,Kenya and Liberia. As a way of building on Project Inspire Africa,we introduced Africa Development Series a Learning Platform that brings together Non-profit Leaders to equi

12 Changemakers | 12 NGOs | 12 Amazing Stories | 41,891 Lives Impacted MAUREEN Ogechi Alikor Founder,Demystify Abuse Campaign This organization helps survivors of sexual abuse heal,recover and purposeful reintegrate into the society. STANLEY Onah Chukwuemeka Executive Director,Standing With Stanley(SWS)  Foundation SWS Foundation runs a free private school for indigent children, and advocates against cultism and other forms of anti-social activities among students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions. BARBARA Madu Co-founder, The VVF INITIATIVE The VVF Initiative is a women's health advocacy group that creates awareness around Vesico Vaginal Fistula. ADAMU Bashiru Oyakhilome Founder,Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation This nonprofit organization is involved in equipping prisons with libraries ,training inmates with vocational skills and helping them to integrate back into the society when they leave prison. OYEBIMPE Olofin Arowosebe ECIAS Foundation Every Child Is A S

When failure was no longer an option, Valentine Okafor decided to do the one thing that was difficult for him to do - reading. Today, through The Val Okafor Company, he is helping thousands of young people build leadership competence and increase their productivity as a means of achieving poverty reduction. He spoke with Project-Inspire this month on how his journey has been.  PROJECT_INSPIRE : Can we meet you? Valentine :  Valentine Tobechukwu Okafor is my name. I am 26 years old and from Imo State Nigeria.     PROJECT_INSPIRE :Tell us about your childhood?   Valentine :  I used to be a very shy person when I was younger. I had many aspirations including the desire to become a medical doctor. I just loved to switch professions that tickled my fancy. It is so funny that as a child, I loved to do amazing things but couldn’t do them because of timidity. I wasn’t a very bright student as I was always behind others. I remember the time I came 14th out of 16th, my father almost killed

Having spent his childhood in a rural community with little no or opportunities, Foeday Zinnah decided to create a different experience for youths growing up in rural areas in Liberia. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa, Foeday talks about what he doing and the change it has brought. Can we meet you?   My name is Foeday Zinnah,a 27 years old Liberian citizen. My hobbies includes listening to music, observing nature, and meeting new friends.  I am a Christian, a Seventh Day Adventist by faith,a husband and father.My hobbies include listening to music, observing nature and meeting new friends. Tell us briefly about your childhood experience. I grow up at a refugee kid in Guinea due to the civil war in Liberia.I am the first child in my family and I have four little sisters (Krubo, Pauline, Musu, and Godsay). My parents have been married for over 28 years and they are very young in appearance. I love them and always get inspired by their lifestyles. I didn't have the ‘ideal

Award-winning climate activist Patricia Kombo has continued to advocate for environmental preservation and poverty alleviation. As founder of PaTree Initiative,she has planted 10,000 trees and encouraged hundreds of women to embrace kitchen gardening. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa, Patricia talks about how the journey has been. Can we meet you? I am Patricia Kombo,a 24 years old citizen of the Republic of Kenya. My hobbies are adventure, travelling and farming. Tell us briefly your childhood experience. I grew up in a village setting and was introduced to farming at a tender age and I became very interested in nature and soil. We grew, ate our food and played in the forest. What's your educational background? I am a final year student of Moi University,Kenya pursuing a degree in communication and journalism. I had my primary and secondary school education at Utangwa Primary School and Chogoria Girl's High School. What are your contributions towards making your c

From taking little steps to put smiles on the faces of the children in her street, OLUWAFUNMILOMOTODARABI OJEWALE's (MIBI) passion has blossomed into an organization that has blessed the lives of over 20,000 young people. We are glad to introduce Mibi as Project-Inspire's Changemaker of the month. PROJECT_INSPIRE : Can we meet you?   Mibi :My name is Mibi Ojewale. Mibi is short for OLUWAFUNMILOMOTODARABI. I am first a daughter of God who does his work through Adlai Heroes Foundation, a non-profit organization. I also double as an events producer for John Mary and Party. I love God, children and ice-cream. I am very passionate about humanitarian services (like volunteering to help those in need). My hobbies are events production and styling. It's also safe to say that I am very proactive, kind and passionate about helping others. I hate injustice and cheating.   PROJECT_INSPIRE : Tell us about your childhood?   Mibi : I had a fun and memorable childhood. I actually had

One in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria;the gap to bridge in education is massive. But each step we take in the right direction makes the difference. This month on Project- Inspire,we spoke with Joseph Effiong(Founder of Golden Schools and Executive Director of Make A Life Foundation) about the action he is taking to bridge this gap. Below is the excerpt of our interview PROJECT_INSPIRE : Can we meet you?  Joseph : I am Joseph Effiong, a Teacher who's poised to imbue solutions in every learner and a social entrepreneur who's concerned about providing quality education for low-income commmunities. I am 29 years old and I hail from Inua-Abasi Effiat, Mbo L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.   PROJECT_INSPIRE : Tell us briefly your childhood experience.   Joseph:I   grew up away from my parental home. I spent my childhood in the hands of a Priest who my Mum said I fell in love with as a child. Growing up in the hands of a strict disciplinarian fed my

From one of the toughest countries in Africa, one African youth is inspiring hundreds of youths across 30 nations of the world to take action against violence, gender inequality and climate change. Today, we are glad to introduce Nyembo Jay, founder of Impact Youth Sustainability (IYS), Congo as he shares with us about his work and the journey so far. Can we meet you? I am Nyembo Salumu Jay. I am a 24 years old citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Briefly tell us about briefly your childhood experience. I was born in a tiny village where I grew with a lot of fun memories. I was a confident child. I loved football and played it even to the detriment of my studies. It was after my playmates moved to another class while I failed that I realized how unwise my decision has been. Not all my memories as a child was pleasant but thank God I learnt early to dream big and move on. What’s your educational background? I attended Hakima Primary School and Kaumo Institute for my primary and

Are you a social innovator/entrepreneur? Do you wish to be equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills to perform better? Then this opportunity is for you 👇 The African Development Series is a learning platform created by the Busaosowo Foundation for social innovators to provide them with accurate information,skills and the collaboration they need to implement their ideas for social development. Join the first cohort: bit.ly/afridevs

With 83% of its population living in rural areas,lack of access to health information is a measure challenge in the Malawian health sector. One doctor is changing that narrative through her non-profit organization's advocacy campaigns. We introduce to you,Zayithwa Fabiano,founder of Health Access Initiative, Malawi  Can we meet you?  I am Zayithwa Fabiano,a 27-years old Malawian Medical Doctor. I love hiking, reading, gardening, travelling, cooking.   Tell us briefly your childhood experience .  I grew up in a small town called Zomba. I am the last born in a family of 5 children. I grew up very close to my parents and siblings. We were taught to be very civically engaged at a young age, so spent a lot of time helping our parents with their social work.  What's your educational background?  I had always enjoyed the sciences from my primary school education at Zomba Private Primary School. I went on to complete my secondary school education at Marymount Second

After several first-hand experiences of the injustice occasioned by the loopholes in our criminal justice system, Oluyemi Orija couldn't put up with this holy discontentment. Her response was setting up Headfort Foundation. Barely two years after, Headfort Foundation has not only remained committed to prison decongestion and human rights advocacy but has in the process gained international recognition. We are glad to introduce Oluyemi Orija as Project Inspire's Change Maker for the month of September as she shares with us how it all began   PROJECT_INSPIRE : Can we meet you? Oluyemi :I am Oluyemi Orija, a lawyer, an entrepreneur, and a human right activist. I hail from Ekiti state, Nigeria, a graduate of law from Ekiti State University. After my law degree, I proceeded to the Nigeria Law School in Lagos and I served Nigeria at the legal department of Urban Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state Nigeria. I am the Managing Partner of Headfort Chambers, a corporate

A large number of people in Sierra Leone do not have access to safe drinking water. About 2.9 million people are unable to get clean water. Fortunately, youths like Benson Kandeh are not just talking about the problem but solving it. Benson developed a simple pump technology that has been supplying clean and safe water to over 50 rural communities. We are pleased to have him share with us how his journey has been.   Can we meet you?  My name is Benson Kandeh, I am 27 years old from Freetown, Sierra Leone. My hobby is researching. Tell us briefly your childhood experience. I was born and raised in a poor rural community away from the capital city, I started going to school there because my parents were not financially buoyant to send me to the city to attend school. Life In the village was really hard and difficult for me as a young child. However, I knew in my heart that one day I would make life easier for my people. That desire motivated me to study hard and I got a scholarsh