Abel showing off the new roof for the local school
Communities across Gombe, North East Nigeria, are not supported by the government, which neglects its responsibility to generate education initiatives, build schools and support families.
ActionAid, in partnership with a local organisation called Care for Life, organised a five day meeting to discuss how improvements could be made.
Over 176 men, women and children attended these meetings and learnt why the government is in place and what its responsibilities are, as well as learning about their own rights as a community and ideas to drive change.
“We have lived for over 40 years without any help from the government”, explains Abel Baba, 44, from Latur. “The only two classrooms built in our community were built by us. The classrooms had no roof because we could not afford it.”
The classrooms had no roof because we could not afford it.
The talks were highly informative and helped inspire and empower people to take action.
“ActionAid showed us ways in which we can lobby our local government. We took advantage of our new knowledge and visited the local office straight away."
ActionAid showed us ways in which we can lobby our local government. We took advantage of our new knowledge and visited the local office straight away.
Abel was impressed at the quick response: "The government has already provided a roof for our school. On top of this they provided funds to build four more classroom blocks. This will benefit over 320 children! I am so happy and proud of ActionAid’s work in our community.”
