Getting back to campus, I told my friends about the incident. We were all sorry for the poor boy. The plight of the kids became our major concern especially when some of the kids told me they will like to be an undertaker as their future ambition.
I spoke out when later got to know that the teenagers are the one responsible for disposing the dead children at the home. There was a particular day I got to the home and asked for some of the kids I couldn’t see around like six of them and was told they were all at the dormitory only for me to be told later by one of the other kids on my way out that the six of them died the previous week.
This was the plight of this home and it seems as if there won’t be an end to it until one day, I was invited amidst other social entrepreneurs in Oyo State for a round table meeting on issues facing the social sector in the state.
At the introduction, seeing the calibre of the people at the sitting, I chose to raise the plight of the kids at the home. Fortunately, one of the government officials at the sitting was from the ministry of women affairs and directly in charge of the home but seldom visit the place for he has another office at the ministry. Questions were asked and promises were made.
The outcome of the meeting was so dramatic. The government took up the situation of the home. Now, the home has an in-house doctor and a school.
One of the kids Bolaji is now a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University-OAU, while Samuel is self-employed in Ibadan.
Thinking back, I’m always grateful that I spoke out when I did.
I felt relieved seeing the positive change at the home and the good reports from the kids. Then my passion started going towards another menace in the city…
Let’s meet here same time next week when I will be letting it all out. Till then, keep keeping on. You’ll soon get there.
Your Friend,
-Ma Funmi