2013

In the last days of the year, it is the time to look back. So, what did 2013 bring?

• People! This year was a year in which I met so many wonderful people. Fellow volunteers in Nigeria, colleagues, national volunteers, people in the street. It is always nice to come back to Ilorin after a trip. It takes me at least 15 minutes to get home from the main junction (normally less than 5 minutes away) as every shop owner on the way wants to have a chat and a dozen of kids run to me to hug me.  
• My parents in Benin. Never expected, but they made it, and they loved it. And I loved showing them around in this part of my life.
• Education. I learnt so much in this year about education in Nigeria. I have seen a lot of challenges and hopefully also a lot of opportunities. It is not always easy to prepare volunteers to teach hundred children. Or to support them in teaching practicals with no materials. I hope my colleague and I can help them a bit to improve education.
• Volunteers. I am so proud to see what a big impact the national volunteers make. I hope to contribute a little, but they are the ones who do the job. So I am very proud of them when I hear that instead of 40% now 95% of the students in a school is passing exams. Or to hear from school principals how big their impact is on students but also on colleagues.

But also,

• Corruption. Especially crossing the border, it is an ongoing frustration.
• Heat. I really remember my first night in Ilorin. No power all night long, so also no fan all night long. Welcome to Ilorin!
• Lack of water and power. An ongoing issue in our house. I get used to the lack of power, but being without water is still difficult.

 

Maybe I can just sum up 2013 in one word: Nigeria. Nigeria is a world on his own, with so many nice people, so many people who want to improve the country, so many smiles, so much support, so many hugs, so many remarkable moments, so much to learn. But also, so little light, so much corruption, such bad roads, so many oga’s on the top with not much capacities for their jobs, so many jobless youth, so many children out of school.  I am happy to support the positive sides and feel really blessed to be able to do that with my colleague. I hope we can make a difference for some people together.

So, that’s the resolution for next year. Together with my counterpart, our national volunteers, VSO and everybody else who wants to help, continue to work for a better education in Kwara. I hope 2014 will bring us more visible results and a better life for at least a few people in Kwara state. I belief that all together, we can make a difference. Will you join us?

 

*I will be travelling in Nigeria over Christmas and New Years. This was most likely my last post for 2013. I wish you all a merry Christmas, but especially a very happy, healthy and delightful new year!*