THE ILMI TRUST EXPERIMENT: Call for Assistance
Mission
Statement : Our mission is to provide educational opportunities for children and
youth from poor backgrounds in our society by improving their access to quality
education.
In September 1997, a group of concerned friends namely
Hamisu Mohammed (with Government College Kano), Hamisu Umar Farouk (then with
Kapital Insurance), Muhammed Hussaini Abubakr (then with Kano Kapital School)
and my humble self (with Bayero University, Kano) came together and establish an
Education Trust Fund and named it ILMI TRUST.
The situation in government funded schools (where majority
of the populace attend) is so pathetic that the quality of education given is so
poor. The literacy level is also not encouraging despite years of State’s
effort. The Trust believes that access to quality education is a right of every
person and it is only through education that the wide gap of inequality can be
bridged in the society.
SOME PAST & CURRENT PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES
From inception to date, the TRUST has undertaking many projects, some of which are listed below:
Renovation and Rehabilitation of Primary School Classes: The first project the Trust implemented was the rehabilitation of a classroom. The classroom's floor has been worn out that pupils sit on the bare ground since there are no chairs. The windows and doors are broken and children are exposed to cold during cold season. (In fact, the class room is shared with donkeys and goats) The Trust repair the floor, doors and windows and even gave the class a face lift by painting it. Next was the renovation of four classrooms, the headmaster's and his assistant's offices. That was in 1998-1999. This is a continuous project depending on the availability of funds
Extra-mural classes: From 1997 to date, the Trust recruits volunteers to teach and coach students preparing to take their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. Teachers recruited teach free of charge and most of the subjects are taught. The authorities of Giginyu Primary School and Government Day Girls Secondary School Giginyu always allow us to use their classrooms also free of charge. The Trust provides writing materials (mainly chalk) This is a continuous programme.
Basic Literacy Classes: In the year 2001, the Trust for the first time received a small grant from The Centre For Research and Documentation to organise a basic literacy programme. The project was able to teach 30 men and 11 women how to read and write in roman script. Although the project faced a number of challenges, it was successful at the time it was completed (September 2001) Giginyu Primary Classes were used for the Male section while an individual, (Alhaji Muhammadu) initially allowed us to use his garage for the women section, but latter due to some logistical problems the project was shifted to the classrooms of El-Litinin Learning Fields also in Giginyu. Students were provided with writing materials are are taught free of charge. People from Giginyu and its environs have benefited from the programme. The continuity of this programme depends on funding
Guidance and Counseling Services: The Trust provides free of charge (three times a week) guidance and counseling to students and parents. This is also been carried out by volunteers drawn by the Trust. We always encourage students and parents to utilise these services. That has to some degree improve many young people's chances to making better choices for courses and careers. This is a continuous programme.
Bursary and Small Grants
We sometimes provide small grants to students who proved to be promising but could not afford to pay their registration fees, transport to and from school, complete their projects and pay their school fees e.t.c. So far we have given assistance to three students as follows:
i) In 1999, Five hundred Naira was awarded to Sani Abba to sew new school uniforms (He was a student at the Technical College Kano) now a student of School of Technology reading Mechanical Engineering.
ii) Muhammad Ammani was granted N1500 to enable him complete his Registration at the Federal College of Education Kano (2001) where he was undergoing a diploma course in Business Administration.
iii) Seven month bursary (Total amount: Seven Thousand Naira) was awarded to Abdullahi Ibrahim to assist him with transportation to and from Bayero University, Kano where he is undergoing a one year remedial programme in the Faculty of Sciences. (Award was from September 2001-March 2002)
Education Centre
With the continuous deteriorating condition of public schools, the economy and the increasing gap between children attending private schools and those attending public schools, the challenge became even more serious. Many parents could not afford to buy text books to their children and this inaccessibility to the required texts is taking its tolls. Because of that, we decided to establish a reference library where students can access recommended texts and have a good learning atmosphere. Our long term mission is to expand it to be a full Educational centre that would provide not only books but others services (like computer training, workshops, vocational training) to children and youth from low income backgrounds. As at now, we have provided few text books and students are using the place to consult, refer and read. We however need more books, furniture and other office equipment.
FUTURE PROJECTS LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
Operation-get-a-seat: This project is aimed at providing chairs and tables to pupils in primary schools. This would stop them from sitting on the ground and provide them with conducive learning atmosphere.
Reading Club: This project is aimed at inculcating reading culture in the minds of young children and young people. It is also aimed at given children that could not be at modern schools (mainly The Almajirai) opportunity to learn how to read and write in roman scripts.
Blanket Drives: Every year, thousands of children suffer from many diseases due to excess exposure to cold and dry weather because of lack of accommodation and good cover. The goal of this is to provide such children blankets in order to make a difference in their lives! Imagine if it is your kid!
Computer Training: Despite the advancements made in some parts of the world, computer is still a mystery in our society. In order to demystify the computer and expose many young people to its uses, we intend to start a computer training as soon as we are able to get the necessary facilities. We could not afford the widening gap!
WHY WE NEED HELP?
When this Trust was established, we tried to devise a way through which it can be supported financially. We have invested a huge amount from our pockets over the years, but our support come from individuals who donate certain amount every month, from donations and gifts from individuals and from grants from funding agencies. Because of the scope of our activities and our desire to sustain the little we are doing we have to seek for assistance almost all the time. It is the responsibility of all and sundry to engineer a new society that would be safe and secure for all.
ILMI TRUST is a living witness to what inequality to education can breed in the society. We have seen how frustrated children resort to drugs, violence and other anti-social behaviours. The best way to help our society is to have our children and youth educated by giving them the opportunities they otherwise were beyond their reach. By educating them we are making them responsible, productive and useful citizens that would move us all forward, but also save them from the dangers of drugs, violence and other anti-social behaviours.
We need your help...
WHAT YOUR HELP CAN DO
Any single coin or item donated to the Trust would make a difference to the lives of some people who would otherwise be helpless!
$50
*Can provide seats for 6 pupils
*Buy 15 text books
$100
*Can provide seats for 12 pupils
*Buy 30 text books
* Can provide 25 children with blankets
$250
*Can provide seats for 30 pupils
*Buy 70 text books
* Can provide 65 children with blankets
$500
* Can renovate a classroom of 100 pupils
* Can provide seats for 60 pupils
* Provide 125 children with blankets
$1000
*Can sponsor a whole basic literacy project given up to 50 adults (males and females) opportunity to be literate
*Can also sponsor a Reading club for one year! Enabling up to 100 children to be literate and many to develop reading culture.
* Can renovate two classrooms of 200 pupils
* Provide seats for 120 pupils
* Provide 250 children with blankets
HOW YOU CAN HELP?
You may wish to donate in cash or kind, you can buy and send text books, used or new computers, printers or other office materials to our Educational Centre or you may donate cash to sponsor any of our ongoing or proposed projects.
Send all books and (other non-cash) donations to:
ILMI TRUST, 12, Maigari Muhammad Lawan Way
Giginyu Quarters, GPO 11970, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
Send all cash donations in the US to:
Abubakar Alhassan, 1000 Oliver Street, #306Spinder Hall,
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Or to the address above.
You can also write and advise us on how to improve the organisaton!
GOVERNING BOARD
Chairman: Yusuf Adamu M.Sc (Geography)
Programmes Officer: Hamisu Mohammed B.Sc (Ed) Biology
Finance Officer: Hamisu Umar Faruk HND (Accounting)
Other Board Members
Bello Baba HND (Statistics)
Maijidda Muhammad OND (Agric Extension)
Yusuf Adamu Gumel (ADPA)
________________________________
Office Manager: Jamilu Mohammed (Huse)
Working Hours*
9:30-5:00 pm (Monday-Thursday)
9:00-1:00pm (Friday)
*Library can be booked and use any time!
__________________________________Office Address
12, Maigari Muhammad Lawan Way
Giginyu Quarters, Nassarawa, Kano State, Nigeria.
Email: ilmitrust@yahoo.co.uk