SCHOOL PLUS - BORN ROYAL INITIATIVE

Alaoma sophie udeogu is an economist she holds a Masters in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from the university of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria, she is the eight child of her parents and married with three children, she has several years of experience with the banking sector where she served in the marketing department. She also worked as a top manager in a private firm of which she left to become an entrepreneur.

She, having grown up in the rural area of Ebonyi state in Nigeria (Edda) witnessed the unfair treatment given to the children in this local community she was deprived of the opportunity to attend school by her parents but was picked up by a guardian who saw her through her academic sessions, her passion have always been on the education of the vulnerable children of which she was a part of and would like to motivate other children.  

In a community where most dwellers are farmers and traders assumes that there is no more need of education, education is believed never to be a priority or is for the rich "high and mighty". The rate of development is on a low rate meaning that civilization is very far from reach but the rate of crime, social unrest, misinformation, child marriage and unintended pregnancy are on a high ratio in this community. 

School plus would create opportunities, assist and improve the educational sector of this community, we will tackle the problem of illiteracy by creating awareness and primarily educating the people on the need to attend school. We would be providing support for children already attending school, discourage child marriages and unwanted pregnancy in addition provide skill acquisition centers and school aid facilities. 

Over years research study have revealed that several efforts have been made to improve our primary and secondary education there by enhance the literacy rate but yet over two thousand children and more are unable to attend school while many are dropped out. Our project is meant to solve the problem of illiteracy and ignorance of the need of education, sponsor those willing to go to school, create a conducive learning environment in the community and provide skill acquisition centers to empower, train and educate those children that have dropped out and are unemployed.

We also intend to assist the government by creating programs and initiative to elevate the life of people in the rural areas.  

SCHOOL PLUS, it's a concept of Born Royal Charity foundation a part of our back to school initiative. We would start by creating a door to door awareness in different part of the community where we will be sensitizing the entire community on the need for education, we would conduct community gathering, organize counselling sessions and provide incentives to encourage both the parents and the children to attend school, we intend to support some already established school by providing additional chairs and tables and other school equipment that will aid educational process, we would equally reach out to those children that are drop out and jobless by engaging them on skill training like making of soaps, cloths, bags and baking. Which is primarily meant to empower a great deal and create a better society. 

LETU EKOLI EDDA, is in Ebonyi state Nigeria. The community is faced with abject poverty and ignorance and therefore education is literally no necessary. They engage their children in child marriage, slavery and menial jobs to better their conditions. It has been the norms from generation to generation and nothing much has been done about it. Parents are not aware of how education can bridge the gab in their lives, they do not encourage children to go to school. Even the the rate of government involvement to provide schools are poor. In this community you can only attest for one or two primary and secondary school which is always located at a very far distance which is shared with other neighboring communities. 

Having interacted with the people of this community, i observed that it will definitely take great hard work to create awareness of the need for education and make a sensible development. We have involved the state government through our letter to the ministry of education on the need to create more schools, bring more teachers and equip the schools with educational facilities.  

Formal and informal education is a necessity for a healthier society. A society can only be developed when the rate of illiteracy is reduced. School plus is to support and motivate the people on the need for education, bringing development and progress, eradicating ignorance, slavery, migration of children to the cities to hawk and raise money for their poor families will reduce. The attitude of parents giving out their children to child marriages will reduce. Employment will be created, government would be involved to create more schools in the rural communities and a lot will be empowered.

When i remembered as the eight child what i went through with my siblings in our rural community inspired me. My parents could not afford our daily meal not to talk of opportunities for us to attend school, i have loved to be a better person and was privileged to be abducted by a family who helped me to achieve my goals. My growing up in this local community has taught me a great deal and i will like to give back to the children who were once like me and i know a lot would like to be educated if given the opportunity to attend school.

The foundation is registered with the Nigeria CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION on the 21st day of October 2016 and i have worked so hard to impact in my own little way in the life of different communities. 

I hate when i see children not i school and there is a right to education according to our law which  covers them. They are begged to be born and they can not choose the family to be born into. We would have a better society when the majority of these children are enlightened and encouraged to attend schools. Society unrest would be tackled when a lot are privileged to find their destinies haven passed through school. The problem of unemployment and misinformation would be eradicated. 

I was one of the vulnerable children who witnessed deprivation of the necessary things of life which one of it is education. Having acquired my masters i am positioned to help others become better in life. While i was in school, during my vacations i learnt different skills like baking, cooking, hair dressing, soap making and sowing of which i would like to teach others. I also have a basic certificate course with word of faith bible institute which enables me to counsel families, marriages and individuals.    

When i started this foundation i had no financial backings so i had make use of my personal savings to carry out in a little way some projects, i had to wait for so long to make up a reasonable amount to accomplish a project but i decided to start with my little savings because of my passion to make impact different communities i can actually go further in different communities in various states because it a peculiar problem in these rural communities. The challenge of meeting the rural leaders in different communities for their permission which i overcame by getting volunteers from those particular communities to work with me. The failures that i had was that i was unable to meet up with some targeted communities. But with faith and prayers to God i have been able to achieve a great deal. 

I served as a youth leader in my church before i got married. I also was part of the choir and was given several leadership post for i was once the assistant choir coordinator.I as well served in the financial department and i am one who has integrity,honest and innovative. I have as well been happily married for 19 years and have given marriage counsel to younger couples. 

I teach mothers  to be self-employed by educating them on different skills or hand works which could serve as a good source of income.