Sorry for the late update. Lack of internet access and a busy schedule has made it difficult to frequently update you on progress. Nevertheless, I’ve been keeping a journal and now that I have internet and light, my aim is to post as much of it as possible. In order to thoroughly enjoy the details of this wonderful experience with all the pictures. Please keep the donations coming, it’s needed even more than I thought. Thank you in advance xX
Week One
Arrived late evening in Lagos, Nigeria. Stayed the night, next day embarked on a 4hrs journey to Ilorin, Kwara State my first location. Normally interstate travel is never recommended because of all the safety issues. However, after an estimated 10 hrs flight (+1 stop) I was happy to travel by road. Plus the fact that you are loving me with prayer, I feel safe. Regarding the mission; remember I said I wasn’t sure what God intended for me to do here? Well it seems His agenda is bigger than I thought. First week of arrival and I found myself meeting with the Chief Operations Officer for the First Lady of Kwara State (The Governor’s wife), who talked me through the amazing work they are doing-empowering women through business schemes, health care for mothers and babies with HIV and two new initiatives – 1) School with pupils from mixed economic backgrounds 2) Non-government funded Orphanage, both of which I’m looking forward to being a part of. My second unexpected meeting was at the Ministry of Social Development, Culture and Tourism, with the Director of Social Welfare. Having explained the purpose of my visit she then proposed I not only visit one orphanage but several, and provide feedback on areas of development and how international partnerships can be established in order to improve practices. I agreed. However, it has taken a week and some days to get the proposal approved by the Commissioner, during which time I went to another state to volunteer (update on that coming next). Nevertheless, having finally received the approval I started this week at one of the orphanages, fingers crossed I can visit one more before heading to Ibadan my last placement. With what I have observed so far, I am certain that I will be continuing with this mission, because the staff are in need of training, children require resources and the NGOs need corporate support. There’s a lot that is needed! To see more pictures follow me on Facebook: Evelyn Tolu. Profile is open to the public, even if you do not have an account you can still view the updates. Please keep donating and share with friends. Your contributions are a major help towards expenses and resources.
Whilst waiting for the Commissioner to approve their proposal in Ilorin, I decided to utilize my time and volunteer at another orphanage in Akure. Supposedly things take longer here in Nigeria and since I only have just under 5 weeks, I moved on to the next one! Being that my experiences have been so adventurous I feel like sharing every detail with you. From the interstate travel to the room and mattress accommodation I stayed in and most especially the children. Ready?
The journey: As I said in my brief I am not at all dependent on the orphanages for any assistance, all expenses are being paid for through personal funds and your generous donations, and my mum who has been an amazing source of help. I actually did not consider some of the smaller details of this expedition but she has been highly supportive in guiding me through the social protocols. One being the interstate travelling. As far as I can remember I’ve always said when I travel abroad I want to experience the country like the locals, no VIP treatment so I can fully experience the culture…boy did I get what I asked for. For instance everyday people do not get chauffeured about nor do they take the plane to travel interstate, nope! They go to the bus garage (Coach station) and no it’s nothing like booking the national express or the nice comfy coaches you get at Victoria coach station, na mate! These ones, are quite different, as you are unloading your luggage from the car which are all in a ‘Ghana must go’ bag -side note, you should never travel by road with suitcases because you may either get robbed or have to pay a ridiculous amount for your journey. As I was saying, as you arrive people are yelling different destinations at you in order to fill their vehicle with passengers, “Oyo, Oyo?” ”Akure, Akure?” Whichever one yells your destination that’s where you go. Now, although it’s a bus garage, you may find yourself in a normal 4 passenger car but carrying 5 to 6 people, more money for the driver. Found my car and once it was filled beyond capacity off we went full speed ahead and I mean that literally. Proper motor racing, weaving in and out of heavy goods lorries, beep beep beeeeping past other cars. But for some reason everyone was calm, confident that the driver knows exactly what he’s doing. Passing through the small towns, we were bombarded by sellers, each time about 8 people on either side of the vehicle all trying to sell us the same things, “Colanut fifty Nira. Mummy, auntie, broda, sista, buy ground nut ? Fifty nira.” Like that’s not entertaining enough the driver then decides to intermittently stop to take a leak by a bush and later to buy a branch of bananas, yes I mean branch, just cut from the tree N100 (about 40p) . The down side of the road travel was actually the supposed police check points, felt like every 30 -45mins of travel there were police officers randomly stopping cars, for what I’m not sure. However, word on the street is that they just want money or they would simply waste people’s time asking the driver unnecessary questions, making the travelling time longer unless he gives them money. Thankfully, because of your prayers my travels have been smooth and on schedule. On one particular occasion I had a plain clothed Soldier in my vehicle who every time our driver was told to ”Park! Come down!” she would get down too, show her badge and scare the policemen. Who knew they were committing an offense. Without exaggeration this happened 4 out of 7 times, thrice they just waved us without hassle. Imagine the irritation every time we saw another check point in the distance. After the police we then had the issue of potholes, all shapes and sizes. Some places they were so massive that we were no longer able to drive on the roads, instead on the side by the bushes. Nevertheless, we eventually arrived in Akure, Ondo- a nice, clean and peaceful place.
The Accommodation: My mum is a comedian! Why? Well, I said to her I want this trip to be authentic, I want to experience life like the natives, the everyday people, basically the locals. What I saw when I got to my new place of residence in Akure, ”Kai! I nefa hesperrid it.” It was just a room with a mattress, nothing else, absolutely nada. I was so angry that THIS was the accommodation my mum decided to put me in and leave for Lagos. Her argument ”But you’re the one who said you want to live like most Nigerians, and you don’t have to go far, the orphanage is just there. Don’t worry Mama (owner of the house) is there she will look after you if you need anything. Buy torch, cause there’s no light o.” Looking back I can laugh about it now but the first night I was emotional, looking at the four corners listening to the crickets, wondering what on earth did I get myself into.
To make matters worse, the toilet and bathroom were communal and located outside…. what if I need to use the toilet during the night? No way! I decided I was not going to stay in that place for more than one night, and I was certainly not going to bathe in that hut. I even slept in the clothes I’d arrived in. I was that determined not to get comfortable. Come day break, I had meditated and reminded myself of what I’d said about having an authentic experience, plus it was only for a short time, so I told myself to toughen up and rough it out. I adapted so well I was even taking cold baths (couldn’t be bothered to be boiling water) in the mornings. Something to make you laugh; my first time using the outdoor bathroom, I accidentally locked myself in. Apparently I had shut the door too hard that it latched on the outside, so when I had finished having my cold shower, and tried to get out, I was trapped! Lawwwd, my heart, but I stayed cool calm and collected, banging loud enough for the man staying in the other ‘room and mattress’ next to mine to come out asking ”Any problem?” Me,”Yes, I can’t seem to open this door.” Thank you Jesus that the brother was home to free me. Alright, alright stop laughing, just GoFundMe 😉 Thanks again for all your support.
