It was a few weeks to my 24th birthday last year, I had just completed my internship and was taking a break off work of any type, aside the training and courses I was taking online.
That period was one of reminiscences for me. I thought about the things that plague my heart and my passion and how well I've towed the line.
9 years ago, as a teenager, I had a deep longing to help my fellow teenagers. I was a 200L undergraduate student at the time and made it a habit to reach out to 100L female students. Female teenagers were my niche. I'd mentor them one at a time and become friends with them. Not that I had life figured but I thought I could help one more girl avoid a mistake I'd possibly made.
Leaving school and not meeting any more students stopped that routine, with just the friends I made out of the process remaining.
So I thought to make it even more mega. I'm more of a team player than a Lead, more of working in teams than solo.
I decided to organise an outreach to the teenagers in the community where I grew up. At the time, teenage pregnancy, cultism, school dropouts was the trend, is still the trend. And I thought, let me meet these ones, share what I know, motivate them to yearn for a better life and by so doing reduce the menace occurring in the community.
When I birthed the thoughts, I honestly didn't know how to go about it, as much as I've been a part of community outreaches, I've not headed one myself.
And in addition to the outreach, I was to start up a mentorship forum to see that these ones are grounded in love.
I got feedbacks as regarding volunteers and sponsorship but as the day drew near things went south. I almost gave up. I was literally going out of my comfort, been dilly daling for years, and now things aren't working out.
I wanted to cancel and just go back into hiding. But, I didn't.
Thankful to my parents and siblings and some friends who supported, the outreach was a success.
We gave out books, stationeries, in addition to the talks and mentorship.
Met over a thousand students in 3 different schools.
The mentorship hasn't been so smooth as we're just a handful of mentors compared to a thousand students(teenagers), some of which do not have devices to communicate with.
However, I've been able to mentor a few girls; one time it was one who wanted to quit living with her aunt and in turn quit school, another had academic challenges, and another relationship etc.
I don't have my life all figured and sometimes I need someone to look out for me too, but I'm glad to always show up for them when I receive their call or message.
I hope to re-strategize and do even more and in another dimension.
Some more pictures..
This is the one time I can recall vividly that I went out of my way to accomplish something and I'm glad I did something useful to the community. 🤗