21-year old high-spirited Jennifer is a self-driven, creative and motivated woman. An Entrepreneur, Journalist, Libertarian and author. She founded Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGi), a non-profit volunteer-driven, education-focused organisation, backed by a team of other young professionals who also share in the vision of providing quality education to undeserved children in geographically marginalised communities.
She was among the privileged participants at the just concluded, 2016 Students & Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) workshop in Accra Ghana, which also served as the maiden edition of the Africa Liberty Forum. The Forum brought together friends of the freedom movement across Africa to discuss challenges facing the region and to learn from one another on the most effective way to advance the free-market reforms.
»»Tell us about your work: how you came to work as a humanitarian and what you were doing before?
I wanted to be a Journalist and worked in a media house. I think that desire was what made me what I have become today. While nursing my desire for Journalism, I became a freelance writer with The Nation Newspaper. I have also contributed in the production of different Magazines/Newspapers.
My first voluntary service began after I had attended the Educate a Girl Nigeria workshop in Lagos. The workshop was an eye-opener to me as I became aware of too many illicit behaviours bedevilling the girl child around the world such as child marriage, sexual assault, violence against girls etc. I saw the need to help young people, I desired to speak out so that my voice to be heard. I said to myself, if only my voice could change the status quo in Africa, why should I hold back. I approached some NGOs indicating my interest to serve as a volunteer. I joined Her Voice Africa, YALI Network, One African Child, Earthplus, She is a Model International etc.
In order to be exuberant and to ensure that my voice is loud enough, then I founded Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGi) in January 2016. Since then, HAGi has mentored over 1000 girls across Africa.
As a student, I have been motivated to work in places where I could contribute and provide value. I have performed excellently in different roles like taking care of children in my church, communications and development.
»»Who inspires you?
My mother is my inspiration. She always supports me in every goal-oriented endeavour. She desires to see me reach the peak of my Endeavour and become a voice to reckon on.
Another source of inspiration is the young people I’ve met in the course of doing my humanitarian works, whose stories always resonate hope and which I carry with me through every session, seminar, or lesson I give.
»»Who is the most important mentor in your life, and why is he/she so valuable to you?
I have been lucky enough to have many mentors in my life. I believe that one mentor may not be enough to guide one in all the things that one may encounter in career and life. I found mentors so valuable because usually they have been around the block and have already tackled the issues I am facing. They can tell me what to avoid as much as guide me on what I could do. All mentors are important but my best mentor, the woman who transformed my life is Mrs Juliet Kego Ume-Onyido, founder of Whole woman Network.
»»What are the key projects you have accomplished?
We are supporting community-based schools in Africa and our literacy effort is playing an instrumental role in ensuring that young girls in Africa have access to education. It is an investment that will give dividends to generations unborn. Globally, enormous progress has been made in closing the gender gap in primary education over the last 20 years.
This year, we have mentored and empowered over 1000 young girls in Nigeria.
Our projects includes:
1. Social Action Project: The aim of the project is to address one of the social issue affecting our communities such as
•Access to Education for all.
•Sexual Assault
•Violence against girls
2. A Day with a Girl Child: To ensure a better future for our girls. They will have to be shaped and properly guided. The A Day with a Girl Child project is mainly for children between 6-13 years old. The program involves:
•Career Talks,
•Educational Discussions
•Mentoring and Quizzes.
3. Community Outreach: This project is mainly for the street children and the Less privileged children. It includes...
• School Empowerment for female students
• Back to school/ enrolling at least 1 out of school girls in school.
An education inspection of the
educational system reveals that many pupils finished their schooling without being able to read. Therefore, we shall focus on both the quality of education and enrolment rates because we know that educating girls has tremendous multiplying effects on families and societies.
.
»» What does Volunteering look like to you?
With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer to help people. However, the benefits of
voluntary services are enormous.
Through volunteering, one can find friends while reaching out to the community, learn new skills, and even advance in career. Helping others can also help protect one's mental and physical health.
I’ve come to believe that anyone can do this “Volunteering” anywhere.
»»What is your long-term goal?
Dr. Thomas Dooley, US Navy Physician once said, “Dedicate some of your life to others. Your dedication will not be a sacrifice. It will be an exhilarating experience because it is an intense effort applied toward a meaningful end.”
My ultimate goal is to contribute to the improvement of girl-child education in Africa and to put a stop to issues militating the development of the girl child, such as sexual assault, violence against girls and child marriage. My dream is to locate those gifted young girls who deserve a chance to education but may not be able to get near it due to lack of funds.
I would very much like to be in a position where I could do something to make that dream a reality. As my life moves forward, I want to see thousands of girls having their future aspirations fulfilled.
»»Where do you see Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGI) in 5years time?
In five years time, I want to see HAGi impacting more lives and bringing succour to underprivileged girls. I want to see thousands of girls, having their aspirations fulfilled. I desire to see more development partners, partnering with HAGi to ensure full realisation of our set goals.
I desire to see HAGi being at the fulcrum, championing a campaign against child marriage & other violence against young girls.
»»Tell us more about your NGO HAGI?
Hope for African Girls Initiative is a platform for implementing SDG’S goal 1, goal 4 and goal 5 in all it forms. In line with the sustainable development goals agenda, the issue surrounding women and girls’ empowerment, Gender Equality and human dignity becomes a primordial task for every stakeholder. These pressing issues led to the creation of Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGi) in January 1st 2016 with the vision of seeing the Girl child at the centre of development and peace. HAGI is developed to improve and foster the self actualization of the girl child’s potential for societal development. We want to see the girl child being celebrated, empowered, educated, and creating mastery of purpose, exercise of human rights and total engagement of women.
In Africa, there are a lot of challenges facing the girl child. With detailed study over the years, these challenges have been best categorized under the niche of Education, Health and basic Human rights that shouldn't be gender depriving. The girl child, like her awesome gender counterpart is also faced with these enormous challenges but we are compelled to attend to the more vulnerable the girl child and women at large. Our mission is to educate and empower the girl child with the aim of enhancing their values through campaigns and raising awareness, if just one girl is touched our mission is accomplished.
»»What’s your advice to young people who want to make a difference but aren’t sure of how?
“There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions in a way that serves the world and you.” - Richard Branson.
You must not wait until you become affluent before you impact people. Successful people always focus on the positive side even when they know challenges are inevitable.
Start with small steps. I did not magically start speaking to young people all at once. I started with trainings, and conferences. But that is not even strictly a requirement to get engaged. Helping a less fortunate individual by sharing your food or your time is a good start. Also volunteering in outreach programs and participating or joining in school and community-based organizations could help. But educating one’s self and caring sufficiently enough to really know the other person’s concerns are keys to engaging and making a difference. After all, the world may be vast but we are really just connected invariably and inevitably. “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” —Pablo Picasso
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