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{EB} ARTS ORGANIZATION BRIEF REPORT ON THE PROJECTS- THROUGH THE EYES OF INNOCENCE, AND FINDING HOPE AGAIN
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Introduction In 2011 {EB} Arts Organization, a social enterprise that seeks to promote the culture of education was formed. Education that hinges on every form of art and civil involvement in creative initiatives that promotes peaceful co-existence. Educating society increases a nation’s wealth.
This social enterprise seeks to train society's youths, whether 'schooled' and or 'unschooled', for purpose of creating a conscious need for engaging in creative thoughts and expressions in society. Its idea is to build a platform of involvement for expressions in words and actions through arts that blend our cultural heritage while identifying with those borrowed from around the world.
Her idea was to give those she sees as the vision leaders of Nigeria’s future, a platform to express in words, their unique thoughts on current and pressing issues as they affect the society.
It was in this light that the organization embarked on the first phase of her project themed, “THROUGH THE EYES OF INNOCENCE”, a poetry competition for Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.
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RATIONALE/OBJECTIVES This project sought to view, through the eyes of a child, the current situation of a society, nicely penned down through the idiom of a poem.
While poetry is one of the genres of literature, it has not been maximally explored to bring forth in-depth meanings on issues using style and skill. Poetry itself is a very refined art, classic and tasteful. This project was designed as an attempt to awaken the spoken word ability of the children, which would aid students blossom in their intellectual and creative capacities, by exposing the child to constructive thinking; developing their minds, power of thought and concentration.
The competition, which was non-profit oriented, served as an avenue through which aspiring poets could draw strength and inspiration in an environment of healthy competition. It is our belief that giving these students a podium to educate themselves and the society is a right step towards preparing them for bigger stages tomorrow.
THE PROJECT The project “Through the Eyes of Innocence” started with sending out invites to selected/participating schools (Public and Private), to submit entries for the competition. Entries were collected after two weeks and sent to the judges to grade on certain parameters and arrive at the top ten pieces. Out of 20 schools who were invited to participate, 8 schools submitted entries.
The anthology was launched, and awards granted to the top five contestants, while the books (in their limited copies) were distributed to few schools in the city of Jos, Plateau State.
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THE PLAN-LONG TERM This project is intended to be carried out in the entire 36 states of Nigeria, whether regionally or independently in terms of state. It therefore extends a national arm to build national educational relationship between States and to promote and protect a child’s right to education.
The project is fully aligned with the strategy of strengthening national civil peace, and sharpening the educational structure in societies using the youths and children.
PROJECT RELEVANCE AND COHERENCE The context discussion in relation to education and learning proves enough relevance. If thoroughly analyzed and the project assessed, learning/education is a prime, and a key issue. The development objective of the project is to contribute to an improved quality of the educational and expressive life of a child through improved participation, and open competition using arts. 5
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PARTNERSHIP AND STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS The project was supported by Beehive Associates, Abuja.
PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY The project is sound and can be sustained with partnerships and collaborations.
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PROJECT II THE FINDING HOPE AGAIN PROJECT
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THE FOCUS The central part of Nigeria has witnessed one form of ethno- religious crisis or another, and about three thousand children (3000) have been affected by this crisis. These crises have taken away their parents and their source of livelihood. Today these children are out of school, some of them are beggars on the street. The project is aimed at giving these children scholarship. And this is in recognition of the fact that the right to education is an inalienable right. Education creates the voice through which rights can be claimed and protected, and without education, people lack the capacity to achieve valuable functioning as part of life. If people have access to education, they develop the skills, capacity and confidence to secure sustainable livelihoods. A few of the affected children were interviewed and they include the following:
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Hajara Auwal, Habila Salami, Sani Adamu, Halima Ismail, Kadijat Sani, Zainab Adamu, Fatimah Auwal, Suaibu Sani, Ishaq Jamil, Fatimah Mohammed, Hassan Sani, Jennifer John, Aliyu Iliya, Amina Musa, Mariam Umar, Maureen Gabriel, and Chindongnaan Benjamin, Mary Habila, Aliyu Iliya.
THE CRUX We organized another poetry competition involving 22 Junior Secondary Schools in Jos, Plateau State. This is designed as an attempt to save our generation by helping to give these children their fundamental right to education. This project sought to help children who are out of school, as a result of the crisis that occurred/ those who cannot afford either due to loss of parent or difficulty. This project sought to protect these children from what they are exposed to on the streets, by simply sending them to school. The theme of the competition is FINDING HOPE AGAIN. The contest is tagged CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN meaning that the children contesting are doing so to support the affected children get back to school This project will span for a whole year (October 31st, 2013- October 31st, 2014). During which the affected children (all or a few) would get a shot at going to school.
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AUDITIONS OF THE SCHOOLS
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Grand Opening of the project-October 31st, 2013. PRE-OPENING
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THE GRAND OPENING
A poem performance from Kingdom Citizens College, Jos
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A poem performance from Hikimah College, Jos
A poem performance from Baptist Science Grammar school, Jos 14
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Presentation of certificate awards
A performance by a guest singer- Ben ‘Science’ Obasa 15
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A display of the Through The Eyes of Innocence Anthology
The welfare committee wrapping gifts and foods 16
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A few of the affected children with invited guests
A section of the audience 17
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A section of the audience II
Participating schools 18
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In the end with a few schools
In the end
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EXPENDITURE 1. Doughnuts for 350 people at 60 naira each = 21,000naira 2. Two packs of Maltina at 2300 per pack = 4600naira 3. Three canopies at 7000 each =21,000naira 4. Four hundred and fifty chairs at 20naira each = 9,000naira 5. Twelve bags of packet water at 70 per bag= 840naira 6. Three flexes(backdrop) ,design and printing = 14,000naira 7. Juice for children 12 cartons 1800per carton =21,600naira 8. Three hundred and fifty Exercise books(souvenirs), 100 books at 9,000= 29,450 naira 9. Certificates for schools and participants =9800 naira 10. Four hundred take away packs for snakes =4,200 naira 11. Video coverage and editing =22,000 naira 12. Pictures = 12,000 naira 13. Gifts( text books, dictionaries, story books and paper wraps), = 15,700 naira 14. Transportation for affected children to and from the venue= 12,000 naira 15. Five packs of small size Swan water at 550per pack = 2,750 naira 16. Venue = 5000 naira 17. First aid 15,000 naira 18. Security =9,000 naira 19. Fancy packs for the children =4,000 naira 20. Dj =10,000 naira 21. Miscellaneous =7,000 naira
Total=249,950 Naira The project opened on the 31st October 2013 at the French Alliance (Alliance Française), Jos, Plateau State. Sponsorship of the affected children of the Jos, Plateau State crisis is still open.
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{EB} ARTS ORGANIZATION…
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SCHOOL FEE RESEARCH AVERAGE SCHOOL FEES IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE 1. New intake registration for primary school pupils =12,500 naira per team. We have three terms in a year = 37,500 2. New intake registration for secondary school students= 17,500naira per team For a year = 52,500 naira
CHALLENGES
THE AFFECTED CHILDREN: After a face to face interview with more than half of these children, we realized that a good number of them were not really affected; their guardians just want a way out of what they felt is a burden of responsible for the child.
SPONSORSHIP: Running a scholarship scheme for children out of school takes a lot of technicality to get sponsors and funders. Only 3 have been gotten so far.
FUNDS FOR SKILL ACQUISITION: We decided it was necessary to engage these children in capacity building, leadership training and human rights orientation to protect their future and to give them a means of livelihood. To run these three months program for the children, we would need resources and resource persons. We believe change happens not mainly through the exploits of the famous and powerful but through the countless acts of often anonymous courage and kindness and fellow feeling and responsibility that continually, stubbornly, expand our conception of justice and our conception of what is possible. We thank you for your constant support to humanity and we look forward to working for developmental change and peace building and fight against human right violation.
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{EB} ARTS ORGANIZATION‌
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Below are pictures of sessions we have had with youths on change, good governance and human right violation. We also have pictures of the skill acquisition we finished 9th of December, and the plateau state peace carnival organized by Center for Peace Advancement in Nigeria (11th December).
On skill acquisition
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On human rights and change
The group discussion and training on peace
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Human Rights evaluation
Participating school reps for the Jos school peace carnival
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A participating school
Performing Mascots
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Taking photographs
Organizing the Jos School Peace Carnival 26
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A CHILD AFFECTED Children take their emotional cues from the significant adults in their lives. Your reactions are most important. Recognize that some children may be concerned about something bad happening to themselves, family or friends. Explain to them the safety measures in place and reassure them that you and other adults will take care of them. –NASP RESOURCES {Helping Children Achieve their best. In School. At home. In Life.)
Children fall through the cracks because there is no one committed to their wellbeing, in a society that is getting exceedingly difficult to navigate. Research on child development and prevention of criminal behavior points to a child’s need for one caring adult to consistently believe in, and be committed to, their best interests. All children need a mentor. This adult can be a parent, an uncle, an aunt, a grandfather, or a teacher. And single parents can and do provide such quality as the same rate as two parent families.
The right to education is a fundamental human right. Every individual, irrespective of race, gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion or political preference, age or disability, is entitled to a free elementary education. This right is explicitly stated in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948:
"Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. …" (Article 26)
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{EB} ARTS ORGANIZATION‌
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Ensuring access to education is a precondition for full realization of the right to education. Without access, it is not possible to guarantee the right to education.
Quality of education is the other side of coin. Providing access to schools secures only one part of the right to education.
The early years, from birth to five years of age, are an important time in any child's life. Children go through a huge variety of learning stages during this time, making great steps, and what they learn at a young age offers an important foundation for their learning in later life.
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