PROJECT_INSPIRE: Can we meet you?
Audrey: My name is Audrey Mukoro, a 36-year-old teacher and social entrepreneur residing in Delta State.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Tell us briefly your childhood experience.
Audrey: My childhood was an interesting one; it was a mixture of pampering and bullying all at the same time. I was pampered by my parents and loved ones while the bullying came from my peers who felt I was getting too much attention. I was diagnosed with sickle cell disorder at three years of age. This is the reason why I was treated very gently by my family.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What’s your educational background?
Audrey: I had my primary and secondary school education at Ighogbadu Primary School, Ugborikoko Secondary School and Hussey College in Warri Delta State. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Benin.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your contributions towards making Nigeria a better place?
Audrey: I lead a nonprofit organization known as Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation providing health support to people with sickle cell order. Growing up in a community of people living with this condition,I was passionate about helping others. My father noticed this early enough and encouraged me to continue to reach out to others. It was this passion that formed the basis for the work we do today at Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What motivated you to do what you are doing?
Audrey: Honestly speaking, the pain I go through propels me to reach out to others.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What have your achievements been?
Audrey: We have reached to over 3,000 sickle warriors in Nigeria. Our online/offline education campaigns have reached over 1,000,000 people living with sickle cell. Over 20 secondary schools with overall population of students running into 30,000+ have been part of our advocacy campaigns. Our skill acquisition trainings have empowered 10 beneficiaries. Our volunteer base has expanded to Abuja, Warri, Agbor, Benin and Lagos.
Every month, we run a free clinic in Gembu Taraba State and in Warri Delta State with a total of 50 warriors in attendance. Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation is the first NGO to sign up a 3-month contract with Opera News Hub to talk about sickle cell on a global scale with over a million reads. We leveraged on this opportunity to create awareness around sickle cell and help warriors one at a time to live better lives.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your major challenge since you began Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation?
Audrey: Accessing funding has been a major challenge and there’s still so much to do. But we’re doing as much as we can do per time.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Could you please share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that have impacted on you?
Audrey: Nearly 80% of the time in the course of my journey, people have told me that I won’t amount to anything good because of my health status. But I turned out the exact opposite. One experience that revolutionize my life was becoming a mother. Prior to the birth of my daughter, I was told I wouldn’t be able to bear a child. However, here we are to the glory of God; my daughter is almost six! Another experience worth mentioning was during my job hunting days. I was turned down by so many employers of labor simply because I am living with sickle cell but today I am an experienced teacher, entrepreneur, genetic counsellor, and founder of Audrey Sickle Cell Foundation.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Many young people have great ideas, but lack of funds is always a stumbling block. What’s your advice in this regard?
Audrey: Start with what you have. Let your passion fuel you and the right people will always locate you.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: How have you been able to raise money to implement your ideas?
Audrey: I fund some of our projects and we also have a few key donors who support our vision consistently, and with their support we are able to do more but anytime they don’t come through, I use my personal funds.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What do you think has been the major cause of unemployment among youths today and how can we get of this?
Audrey: The government has underperformed its role in creating job opportunities in Nigeria. However, we can get of this by encouraging the youths to do better and carve a niche for themselves rather than wait on government.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your prospects for the next 5- 10?
Audrey: My goal for the next 5-10 years is to have free sickle cell clinics for warriors in different location of Nigeria where they can get to access quality healthcare free of charge without any hitch
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Final words to the Nigerian youth.
Audrey: Dream big and pursue your dream!
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Thank you for sharing your story with us and we do pray that many will be inspired as they read.
Audrey: It is my pleasure!
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