Post Covid-19: 'Teach a rural child' intervention

ACTIVITY REPORT FOR EDUCATE A VULNERABLE CHILD PROGRAM

Locations   : Internally Displaced Persons camp in Durumi AMAC L.G.A Abuja,     Nigeria

Date         : 3^rd to 11^th of August, 2020

Implementing Organization: Anneozeng Ogozi Aid Foundation.

FUNDING PARTNERS: GlobalGiving and Anneozeng Ogozi Aid Foundation.

Introduction

Nigeria, topping the list of the three countries in Africa with the highest population of insurgency survivors caused by the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group has also seen close to 14.8 million people in the northeastern part of the country affected or displaced.

Since the advent of Covid-19, educational institutions have been closed down for over three months. While Online education became a welcomed idea to ensure children keep learning, it also served as a disadvantage for millions of vulnerable children living in underserved communities across Nigeria who have no access to online facilities. Before the Coronavirus pandemic, according to UNICEF,approximately 20% of the total global out-of-school population is from Nigeria. Today close to 46 million students have been affected by the shutting down of schools.

In light of this, Anneozeng Ogozi Aid Foundation (AOAF) understanding the growing digital gap being created by a select few having access to education and the majority being cast aside, would have severe consequences such as a future labor market where the majority of youth have no educational qualifications to apply for better paying jobs. This would inadvertently cause the rate of unemployment to spike in the country.

To curb this growing gap, AOAF carried out an assessment in Durumi IDP camp that targeted children between the ages of 8 to 12 years.

ACTIVITIES

After receiving consent from Camp Coordinators, AOAF implemented hygiene, life skills and sex education sessions. In addition to promoting safe education, AOAF ensured the following:

A minimum of 20 students were taught at a time and sitting arrangements limited to 2 on a bench with a distance of 1 meter between students Each student was provided with face masks and it was made compulsory for children to bring them to class each day.

• Washing of hands with hand wash and sanitizing was done before each class commenced
• Activities were designed to ensure no contact was made during sessions.

Facilitators who carried out these activities were all staff of AOAF and volunteers who worked closely with the M & E officer to ensure the smooth running of the activities.

Toolkits Used:

• Learn on- AOAF health and Life skills Manual
• My Body, My Own- AOAF Sex Education Manual

Response:

• The children responded in their numbers and the classes throughout the week were made interactive by the teachers, and due to the interaction, several questions were raise among the children
• Children were able at the end of classes to identify how to keep themselves clean and the importance of maintaining hygiene protocols particularly during Covid-19. Children particularly had many questions on Covid-19 as many of these children are of the belief that it is a hoax and cannot be real. Facilitators took time to explain what the various is and the importance of adhering to the health regulations stated by the government.

DATA REVIEW

1. It was noticed that there is a higher population of girls are more interested in learning and schooling generally, however most of the children that attended (especially the girls) would come late for classes because their parents rather have them use their free time to hawk. On several occasions, when on route to the venue for classes, facilitators would have to talk to children to attend classes before resuming to hawk. When AOAF facilitators tried talking to parents, most of them reiterated the lack of other means to survive and that hawking was the only option for their children to bring more money to the family.
2. It was also noticed that majority of the beneficiaries were from Borno State, however, most of the children have been living so far away from their states of origin that they vaguely recall how their homes.
3. Durumi Camp is densely populated with People adhering to the Muslim faith as compared to other camps AOAF has worked in.
4. As compared to other camps, beneficiaries in Durmi camp were not as fluent in English language and the need for translators was needed.

Challenges

• Over estimated number of children had to be catered for because a lot of them couldn’t stay back and watch their mates attend the classes due to the period of time they have been out of school, but the organization/team members were able organize the children so as to practice social distance.
• The raining season caused a major delay during some of the classes, but the AOAF team was able to get there in good time to carry out activities proper lessons for the children.
• In Durumi Camp, it was noticed that majority of the children could not understand english and therefore the need for interpretators was needed. This was howver fixed as few staff and volunteers are able to speak the local dialect.
• No sitting

Observations: Proper identification of learning areas needs to be done by the M&E prior to the coming of the team to carry out activities. This will avoid wasting the childrens time and having to do the classes in bad locations.

S/N

CATEGORY

IDP CAMP LOCATION

TOTAL

BOYS

22

60

GIRLS

38

Beneficiaries who are CHRISTIANS

4

Beneficiaries who are MUSLIMS

55

Beneficiaries from BORNO

58

Beneficiaries from BAUCHI

1

Beneficiaries from KADUNA

0

Beneficiaries from CAMEROON

0

Beneficiaries able to speak english fluently

10

S/N

ITEM

QUANTITY

COST PER UNIT

TOTAL

BISCUITS

         4 CARTONS

         N3,600

                     N14,400

CHI EXOTIC FRUIT JUICE

           4

CARTONS

         N 1,400

                     N5,600

LOLIPOP SWEETS

         5 PACKETS

           N480

                     N2,400

NYLON FOR PACKING SNACKS

           7 PACKETS

           N50

                    N 350

TRANSPORTATION

6 days for 2 cars

N 1,000 per day

                 N 6,000

FACE MASK

           60

         N 100

                    N 6,000

HAND WASH

3 Bottles

N1,500

                     N4,500

HAND SANITIZER

3 BOTTLES

N1,000

N3,000

PVC Educational Kit.

60 sets Education Materials-

Pencils

Exercise books Erasers sharperners

per child

N20

N250

N10

N20

N1,200

N15,000

N600

N1,200

GRAND TOTAL

           N54,250

($142,38)

BUDGET

Total Amount from GlobalGiving:$87

Conclusion

The activities were a success and the aim to provide safe education during the Corona Virus Pandemic for vulnerable children in Internally Displced Camps in FCT Abuja was achieved with positive response from the children, parents and their coordinator. Appreciation goes to GlobalGiving for their support in helping to raise funds for this activity to be carried out. The AOAF team also deserves appreciation for their cooperation and dedication towards child education and humanitarian services.  

• Global_Giving.docx (DOCX)