Education is a powerful tool. Armed with it, underprivileged children can break the cycle of poverty in their community. A UNICEF report in 2022 states that 1 in 3 children are out of school in Nigeria. The numbers are dire: 10.2 million are out of school at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary school (JSS) level.  

Institutions like The Special Foundation do their best to support out-of-school children through various initiatives like the Inspire scholarships, mentorships, and summer schools. Individuals can do their bit to contribute as well. You can assist these underprivileged children in 5 simple ways that are just as impactful as your donations. 

1. Become a Tutor

Offering your time to underprivileged kids is one of the most selfless ways to help. Volunteering as a tutor or mentor can be very impactful. Many kids from low-income families have absent guardian figures to help them with homework or school projects. Becoming a tutor or mentor is a simple way to fill that gap and make a difference. 

You can tutor a child on subjects where you have a lot of strength. For example, if you’re great at math, you can help them grasp the basic concepts of algebra or arithmetics. This tutoring can be in-person or online depending on the availability and accessibility of relevant learning resources. Positive attention can boost a child’s confidence, making them more likely to learn better. 

2. Donate Educational Supplies

You probably have a lot of old but useable textbooks locked in your storeroom that you believe you will never need again. A lack of basic school supplies, like textbooks, notebooks, pens, bags, etc., can be barriers to a child's education.

Kids learn actively by engagement and having books, pencils, pencils, sketchpads, laptops and other educational materials can help improve their classroom abilities. There are a lot of NGOs that have back-to-school projects that you can donate to. But you can also do it yourself. Digital supplies like laptops or tablets can be used by the staff of schools within these communities. 

3. Participate in Extracurricular Activities

Education is a lot more than academics and grades. At The Special Foundation, one of our core values lies in supporting gifted children from underprivileged communities. An example is Ayomide Adebayor, an orphan and one of our beneficiaries who is a budding football star. Children like Ayomide can sometimes be lost in the fray when people focus on academic potential and ignore artistic or athletic potential.

Talents are just as important as academics. In today’s world, many great and talented people haven’t come from purely academic backgrounds. Nurturing the talent of children from low-income communities and ensuring they can participate in extracurricular activities outside of academics can be a good way to inspire them. Such activities can promote teamwork, discipline, and creativity, and expose them to a world of possibilities. 

4. Advocate for Educational Reforms 

Your voice is important in shaping the policies within your society. Thus, another way to support underprivileged children is to advocate for policy changes to protect their right to access quality education, healthcare, food, and shelter. 

Consider writing a letter to your local government representative highlighting the issues with public school funding. In today’s digital world, you can also start online petitions for policy changes you want implemented. Share on social media and encourage people to sign it. Also, you can sign petitions for educational reforms that you come across too. 

5. Support Financial Aid Programs

Financial aid programs and scholarships like the Special Scholarship at The Special Foundation require support. You can advocate for better funding for scholarship programs. You can support NGOs with programs designed to cater to aspects of a child’s education like tuition payment, extracurricular activities or educational resource materials.

You can raise awareness about scholarship funds targeted at low-income communities. You can be like Korede Dejo, a dance instructor who noticed a child’s talent, came across our Inspire scholarship program, told the child’s parent about it, and helped them apply. You can watch the inspiring story of Glory Innocent. 

In Summary…

You do not have to be Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu or some billionaire philanthropist to support the education of underprivileged children. What matters is being brave to take that step. There are millions of out-of-school children worldwide. If you can transform one life, it will make a dent and lead to a positive ripple effect regarding the future of Africa and the world. Your impact, no matter how little, matters. 

Remember: 

Every child deserves an education, every child has a right to dream.