Mrs Adetutu Adegunju, a graduate of architecture, and a social worker, is the Chief Executive Officer of Smile Givers Charity Initiative, Ibadan, Oyo State. In this interview with Akinwale Aboluwade, publisher of Oyo Reporters, she goes down memory lane on how the Academy started, the ups and downs, and the successes being recorded. Excerpts:
How old is Smile Givers as an NGO and the Smile Givers Academy?
Smile Givers Charity Initiatives was founded on 17th March, 2018, so we are just three years old. The school started in November 2020, towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What motivated you to start the project?
Well, the motivation behind the school, first and foremost, is God. He was the one that gave the vision. Seeing those children on the streets hawking with some begging for alms on the highways weighs me down a lot and I have always been desiring to do something about the situation – to take these children off the highways especially, because it is so risky for them. While contemplating, the pandemic struck and more children dropped out of school, parents lost their jobs and the situation moved from bad to worse in the society. At this point, I knew that it was pertinent to start a free school scheme to contribute our own quota to saving the lives of these children by taking them off the streets and giving them qualitative education thereby offering them a better future.
How smooth or rough would you say the journey has been so far?
Hmm..the journey has been so eventful, a lot of ups and downs without assistance coming from anywhere. People even tried to take advantage of the scheme for selfish interest. For instance, getting the school registered with the Ministry of Education was a serious battle. Everyone just believes that because it is a Charity scheme, a totally free school at that, then there must be some sort of heavy sponsorship at the background, so, everyone wants a share of the ‘cake’.. but we thank God, a year has rolled by and we are still standing, getting better at what we do, to God be the glory.
This is a not-for-profit organisation; what is the driving force?
Yes, it is a non-profit organisation, so we are not making any financial gain but seeing these children turning out well in life is the major driving force. A lot of them could not even read the alphabets when they came in but now, they can read and write. What more gain can one desire than to seeing future leaders being built on this scheme?
How many children are there in the school and home?
We have 25 children on board now and the target is 100 per session.
What is the core mandate of Smile Givers and how aptly would you say it is being realised?
The core mandate of Smile Givers is to put a smile on the face of every underprivileged child we come in contact with. This is being achieved by means of education scholarship schemes, feeding and empowerment schemes, and the free school scheme that just started a year ago.
How do you get inmates into the home; can you cite two cases briefly?
Please don’t call my children inmates; they are children like all our biological children too. We had an initial awareness creation programme before the school took off in November 2020. We always do detailed background checks before taking the children in, just to ensure they are actually needy children, usually orphans, and the ones we see hawking on the streets. We are not a home yet but hoping to be one soon but for now, we only offer day school scheme and free lunch for the children.
How do you get resources to fund the project, especially at this critical period of economic downturn?
Hmmm..Getting resources to fund this project has been God mainly because we have no support or grants from external sources. We only depend on whatever we can raise amongst ourselves within the organisation, and so far, God has been sustaining the vision.
Would you say that the growth of the NGO tallies with your projection?
Yes…the growth of the NGO tallies with our projection. Step by step, we are getting there. As the saying goes..slow and steady wins the race.
What success story(ies) would you attribute to Smile Givers, as well as challenges?
Well…so many success stories, we have a child that by God’s grace we have seen through to higher institution of learning on scholarship. We have another one that we empowered with equipments for her chosen vocation. Several children are being taken from seemingly hopeless situations to a future filled with hope even for our nation as a whole. Talking about challenges, we have been faced with several. In fact, each day comes with a different challenge but through it all, God has been faithful and we keep overcoming all obstacles.
Do you think there is any legislation or policy formulation that may help the causes of NGOs in Nigeria?
The government already has policies that guide NGOs. All that is needed is making use of it…and allowing it to be visible to the public…transparency is key.
What is the major factor that breeds street or homeless kids?
The major factor that breeds street or homeless kids is misplaced priorities both on the part of the government and the populace. Government should prioritise the welfare of the masses being the people who brought them into power and not just focus on enriching themselves. There should be fair distribution of wealth, creating better standards of living, provision of infrastructures and amenities, free education, and free health facilities etc. to better the lives of the citizens. The citizens too should play our parts by obeying the laws of the land, showing love and empathy to ourselves. Families should be well planned by give birth to the number of kids they can cater for. Value should be placed on education..I believe all this would reduce the number of street or homeless kids in our society.
What is your message to the public as the year is rolling by?
My message to the public as the year is rolling by is to love…let’s all see ourselves as one nation. Let us stop the tribalism. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Love not just in words but in deed. May God help our nation in Jesus name.
