FON Donation Brings Hope to Vulnerable Children in Adamawa State
A generous donation of $6,000 from Friends of Nigeria (FON), a U.S.-based philanthropic organization, has transformed into a beacon of hope for vulnerable children in Adamawa State. Received in February 2024 by Professor DeWayne Frazier, President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), this contribution supports the Feed and Read program, an initiative run by the university’s Atiku Center for Development (AUN-AID). This community literacy intervention aims to provide educational and nutritional support to boys and girls who have fallen outside the overcrowded public school system.
Professor Frazier expressed heartfelt gratitude for FON’s kindness, emphasizing the importance of their investment in the future of these children. He reassured donors that every kobo of their contribution would be meticulously allocated to the program’s objectives, ensuring maximum impact.
Currently, the Feed and Read program serves 50 pupils, segmented into two classes of 25. Volunteer teachers, including AUN students, teach literacy and numeracy skills three times a week, alongside lessons in personal hygiene and civic education. The students also receive a nutritious meal each lesson day, prepared by local women, thereby fostering community ties and supporting local livelihoods. With adequate funding, the program could expand its enrollment fourfold, but it requires ongoing training for volunteer tutors in modern teaching techniques tailored to out-of-school children.
The donation from Friends of Nigeria was particularly crucial during the fall 2024 semester, as the program faced funding challenges. With the support, AUN-AID has been able to deliver high-quality basic education that meets local educational standards, providing essential reading materials, uniforms, and hygiene supplies. For many students, the meal provided may be the only nourishment they receive throughout the day, underscoring the program’s commitment to their well-being. Notably, pupils who complete the Feed and Read program consistently outperform their peers in subsequent education levels.
Read Also:
Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Hussaini, Administrator of Grants and Contracts at AUN-AID, underscored the program’s broader impact, stating, “We need to reduce the number of Almajiris begging on the streets. The American University of Nigeria’s Feed & Read program empowers these children by giving them the right to learn, speak, and write, preventing them from resorting to begging for survival.” He expressed deep appreciation for the ongoing support FON provides to sustain the initiative.
The power of kindness to effect change is truly inspiring. The metaphor of the mustard seed aptly illustrates growth, hope, and the transformative potential of education. Even the smallest contributions can lead to monumental shifts in the lives of children and their communities.
Education can break cycles of poverty and empower future generations. Nurturing these young minds can create a ripple effect of opportunities and benefits that extend far beyond the classroom.
Founded in 2015 by former AUN President Dr. Margee Ensign, Friends of Nigeria (FON) is a non-profit organization dedicated to harnessing the economic resourcefulness of Nigerians in the diaspora to foster national development. Through advocacy, engagement, and training, FON remains committed to enhancing economic growth in Nigeria.
The Feed and Read program, AUN’s flagship initiative, initially focused on raising the literacy levels of economically disadvantaged boys in Yola but has since expanded to include girls, supported by a grant from the Irish Government. Following an influx of eager learners, enrollment numbers quickly swelled from 50 to 126 girls—many of whom were displaced or orphaned due to violence in the Northeast.
Beneficiaries of the program, aged three to seventeen, come from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. They benefit from formal lessons in mathematics and English, as well as vocational training like soap-making, while enjoying a daily meal that enhances their educational experience. Many children proudly bring friends of similar backgrounds into the program, and local community members have noted a reduction in loitering, thanks to this engagement.
In addition to improving literacy and employment prospects, the Feed and Read initiative aims to reduce the vulnerability of youth to extremist groups such as Boko Haram. Educated and engaged young people are far less susceptible to the allure of false promises from such organizations.
The donation from Friends of Nigeria (FON) has significantly empowered both the Atiku Institute for Development and AUN to fulfill their missions of community service. As both organizations strive to eradicate illiteracy and hunger among the youth in Adamawa State and Northeast Nigeria, expanding the Feed and Read program will allow for greater outreach and impact, realizing the collective vision for a brighter future.
By PRNigeria
