In the Nigerian state of Kano, amidst the vibrancy of daily life, reside Hafsat and her family of 4 burdened by poverty and the tireless struggle for daily bread.
Yet, amid their straitlaced circumstances, the spectre of inadequate education looms large, casting a shadow over their future aspirations of Hasfat’s 3 kids.
Sadly, this is not isolated to just one family. Families navigating through hard times are as common as the stories themselves.
Behind these stories of toil and hardship are individuals and organizations that have moved to offer a glimmer of hope. One such individual is Quadri Adejumo, a young journalist who founded the Caroline Initiative in August 2023.
Speaking from a newer perspective, Adejumo said: “The idea that birthed the initiative came through the urge of spreading love and sowing impact in others. This has been a lifelong dream that came to fruition through my parents. They were the ones who made us (the kids) understand that you don’t have to be rich before you become a source of provision for people. They preached love and showed love,” Adejumo said.
What’s more delightful for him is how his parents – from different backgrounds and religions – came together to share love as a common cause, which opened his eyes to the depth of living humanely.
“My mother is a Christian while my Father is an Alhaji, but still, they moved alike in giving and providing for the ones in need. In fact, it got to a point we, the children, told them it was scary to provide shelter for others without knowing their family. This was growing up, we had plenty of others that used our home as an abode. My father worked as a plumber and construction overseer and he’d come home with strangers, guys that came to work and have nowhere to sleep. Some would go on to spend a month with us, and my mother never for once went against him. In fact, she’d cook happily for us all.” he explained.
Delving into the initiative
Adejumo noted that the Caroline Initiative is a charity organization dedicated to empowering children and creating a thriving environment for them by offering resources to support them. They also have the Caroline Initiative Forum dedicated to hosting gatherings, empowering, and celebrating individuals and organizations driving meaningful change.
“We started as a 4-person team, and now we have over 30 volunteers at the initiative, mostly university students. This is to equip them with the needed advocacy skills to better put them in a position that’s advantageous for them,” he said.
Since its inception, the foundation has reached out to more than 100 people, with aspirations to impact at least 1000 beneficiaries before the year ends. Adejumo aims to become a beacon of hope to children
“Through Caroline Initiative, we had a school outreach where we provided educational materials for primary school students and with the Caroline Initiative Forum, we recently sponsored the Freshers Debate Finals at Lagos State University,” he narrated.
Lasbat Jawando, a volunteer and Advocacy Ambassador for the Caroline Initiative, underscores the transformative impact of their work. By prioritizing child welfare and providing support regardless of background, the initiative fosters a culture of inclusivity and empowerment
“I mostly promote upcoming Caroline events and outreaches by sharing our updates on social media platforms, most especially Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Aside from that, I’m always present during our events and outreaches as well,” she said.
Jawando expressed how great and fulfilling the experience has been for her so far. She explained how they have carried out events and child outreaches, and also made special contributions to the Lagos State University Freshers’ Cup.
“Many things in this initiative stand out for me. I have access to certifications and even internship opportunities, it helps in enhancing my leadership skills, for someone like me who has never been part of any organization, Caroline Initiative does it for me to be honest, just like the popular saying, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I have access to training, events, and workshops. Caroline initiative can also help me connect with mentors to expand my network,” she elaborated.
Beyond these, Jawando adds that what appeals more to her is the organization’s priority of child welfare.
“We intend to make the initiative grow by collaborating wiof like-minded organizations, hosting engaging events, and continuously sharing our updates on social media platforms for further engagements. By building strong partnerships, we are confident that Caroline initiative will grow even bigger and better. Caroline initiative centres on every part in Nigeria; it’s a 360 thing, we’ve even had events in Lagos and Ibadan,” she buttressed.
At the last child outreach in Adegbayi, Ibadan, Jawando said that they discovered that children had limited learning materials in their schools, but they were able to donate some notebooks and stationery to the kids, and the excitement on their faces was priceless. Despite the odds that beset them, Jawando is happy that the children have shown growth and resilience.
As a start-up, limited funding remains a significant challenge. Adejumo notes that significant improvement will come when a number of organizations come forward to take up the mantle of change which will benefit millions of people in need of humanitarian aid. He says so because of the firm belief that it is not just a job for Caroline Initiative alone, but for many people who are capable of fighting to put humanity first.
“In terms of funds, we’ve had much come from individual pockets who are eager to give to the society. I have understood that you can give to society with any amount. What matters is you doing so. Donations of any amount, no matter how little, is appreciated too. This will go a long way in seeing our projects come to life,” he reiterated.
On her part, Jawando added that the low supply of human resources and infrastructure were other notable challenges beyond financial constraints.
Nevertheless, Jawando maintained that the foundation was working to to build a track record of success and engagement.
In the vast expanse of education, every helping hand, no matter how modest, possesses the power to transcend barriers and uplift communities. The Caroline Initiative stands as a testament to the enduring strength of humanity, proving that even in the face of adversity, the collective spirit of goodwill prevails.
In Kano, Nigeria, Hafsat and her family of four struggle with poverty and limited access to education, a common plight among many families in the region. Amidst these challenges, the Caroline Initiative provides a beacon of hope. Founded by journalist Quadri Adejumo in August 2023, this charity organization focuses on empowering children and creating supportive environments for their development.
The initiative began with a four-person team and has grown to over 30 volunteers, primarily university students, equipping them with advocacy skills. Since its inception, the foundation has reached over 100 people and aims to impact at least 1000 beneficiaries by year-end. Through various programs, including school outreach and sponsorship of academic events, the organization is dedicated to supporting education and child welfare.
Volunteer Lasbat Jawando highlights the transformative impact of this work, noting the inclusivity and empowerment fostered by the initiative. Despite financial and infrastructure challenges, the organization remains committed to expanding its reach and working with like-minded partners.
The Caroline Initiative exemplifies the power of collective goodwill and underscores that even small contributions can significantly uplift communities, particularly in the realm of education.
