Eden free school Modakeke Osun state, Nigeria
Olutosin Adebowale, TFT country team Nigeria, had a conversation with Adebimpe Jesujobi following up on the TFT trainings. Adebimpe attended the youth training two years ago. Prior to her TFT training, she said she found it difficult to convince parents to enroll their children in her free school. Wherever she went, she was accused of being diabolical and using the destiny of the children in the school. Their parents said it was impossible for a young woman to start a free school for poor people when she was equally poor. Her family and friends couldn’t understand her decision to do such.
After the training, Adebimpe said she was stuck with the tool she learned – the HOLON – and community engagement. So, she returned to her parents and family in Ondo state and had a heart-to-heart talk, explaining her decision and vision to them. She then engaged with her friends and old schoolmates. Adebimpe said that she had enough examples of transformers who are doing great work in various communities too, which she cited as examples.
Adebimpe engaged with community leaders and explained calmly her vision and mission to them, she said that now, she knew that community engagement and understanding is key to any successful transformative work. Now she has 98 students in the school and some of her friends are the sponsors of these pupils, paying the school fees.
In addition, she said that her self-confidence has improved after TFT training, and she has peace of mind in the village since no one is accusing her of using children’s destinies anymore. Tosin’s organization sponsors 20 pupils in her school through the scholarship program. The number of out-of-school children in her village has reduced. Also, the mindset about charity work being rituals has changed.
