Yesterday was a turning point for pupils and staff of Government primary school, Ikot Ese, Southern Nigeria, as myself and 
Even if I do not have enough, I am doing what I need to do. I want to know what I can do for someone. -
The Project
This is the third phase of the project I started with 
So far
So far we have successfully extended this project to the Southern part of Nigeria after my long journey back to the South. You can read about the first phase here where Ishaq, a 12 year old boy who lost his dad was taken off the street to be sponsored and trained as a tailor. And the second phase here where over 30 notebooks were distributed to school children. With continuous support from the Steemit platform, I hope to extend this project to other parts of the country.
A cross section of pupils across all the classes who came Top of their class and their teachers
Emotions welled up in my heart yesterday, as myself and
Before visiting the school yesterday, I faced many challenges that naturally would have been enough for me to give up but I weathered through it all. From the challenge with the fall of SBD and Steem, to that of transportation from town to the village, to that of a clement weather, the rain threatened our movement. But touching children's lives was a greater cause.
We arrived admist the bad weather
I'm glad we overcame all of these, putting smiles on the faces of these children was paramount, it became my internal drive.
Where Inspiration Came From
I've been in tears since yesterday, tears of joy. You know why? I'll tell you.....
This is it; there was a time I wanted doing something like this but could not, because of lack of funds. I was frustrated, and all efforts to source for funds ended in futility.
It was during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days, that's about one year ago at a remote village in Delta State, Southern Nigeria. I had a personal CDS (Community Development Service) project I wanted to execute but could not, because I had no financial support. All efforts to get one or two proved abortive. Some days, I would wake up and start crying because nobody cared about the kids, the school children there were suffering, they're still suffering, they lack access to many educational facilities and materials that would enhance their learning process as well as make their educational experience an enjoyable one.
Being able to do something similar now through steem and from my little earnings on Steemit, gives me joy, nothing but joy!
You have no idea how happy I've been from being able to touch the lives of young children. This feeling is ethereal. All thanks to you and steemit, yes, you reading this post.
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The school headmaster told me yesterday that this was the first time ever the pupils were receiving gift prizes on their closing day and that he was particularly impressed that it wasn't coming from a government official or a politician but from a young person.
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I'm Equally Sad
Why am I sad?
I also felt sad because of what I saw yesterday. Some of these children do not have footwears, they walk long distance covering some kilometers to and fro school bare footed. After school closure in the afternoon, they trek back home from school, getting their feet almost burnt from the scorching heat that emanates from the tarred road.
I was left emotionally shattered when she told me that she had to borrow this uniform to wear
Also, many of them do not have school uniforms, they wear rags and something else to school. One of them told me that the uniform she wore yesterday was a borrowed one and that the owner would get it back from her (how heartbreaking). Some are putting on extremely worn-out uniforms with holes and patches. While interacting with them and their teachers, I found out that many of them don't have parents, some are orphans.
I am sad because there's nothing beautiful in seeing little children suffer.
I am sad because I want to do more as soon as possible but do not have sufficient resources.
you may think they're not students of the same school, they are! But they're wearing something else as school uniforms
I was able to select just four kids yesterday to sponsor the sewing of new school uniforms for them at the cost of N1500 each in Nigerian naira, making it a total of N6000 which is equivalent to 12 SBDS at the current market value.
I am sad because I wish I could afford 20 pairs of new school sandals to 20 pupils who are desperately in need of it to save their feet from torture and pain. A pair of new school sandals is N2000 X 20 = N40,000 which is equivalent to 80 SBDS.
Intelligent Kids, Victims of Circumstance
After addressing the entire school, I found out that these kids are intelligent and very sound. I encouraged them to keep on working hard and to take their studies seriously. As for those who didn't perform well, I told them to work harder to improve by next term.
These kids have dreams just like us, nothing is wrong with them, they are only victims of circumstance, some of them have gone through unprintable things that can never be imagined. I spent one week planning on how I'll visit this particular school to meet with the pupils, I had spoke with the head teacher about the school and the enormous challenges the pupils are facing. I had move from one school to another in rural communities making enquiries about their challenges, there's so much to be done!
Beautiful one
These children are future Steemians, who would mount the steem blockchain someday and create value like us. These are future doctors, lawyers, fashion designers, teachers, bankers, programmers, developers, pastors, CEOs etc.
They're in the formative stage of their lives and they deserve the best.
future Steemians
Promoting Steemit
introducing steemit to the teachers and pupils
While asked by the headmaster to address the school, I seized the opportunity to tell them, both the pupils and teachers about Steemit. Though the kids didn't really get it but the teachers did and one of them indicated deep interest in joining, that he followed us up to ensure that he got further details on it.
with the teacher who showed keen interest in joining Steemit
a steemit conscious teacher will not leave you an inch
There was a time I was ashamed of myself, that I could not do any of these, steemit came and changed everything. I will not give up, there's more to be done.
chatting the way forward
Little by little, we will get there. We don't have to wait for the government any longer. But I cannot do all of these alone, I need energy, I need your support. I need your support in whatever means that it can be offered, for the children. The children needs you to become their energy!
More Photos
discusing the cost of sewing uniform for a pupil with one of the teachers
He's intelligent but has no shoes
while getting their report cards for the term while others are playing
emerging giants of their class
Appreciation speech from the headmaster to us
Appreciation
I wouldn't have been able to push this project this far without the support I got from some persons and without the inspiration I drew from others directly or indirectly. These people made me to keep on holding on until all that was left was just to hold on.
They have become my energy, in no particular order!
@Surpassinggoogle you made me to understand that there's a whale also inside of me, you've inspired me in so many ways through your several innovations on the steem blockchain
Thank you 
