Penultimate Tuesday 12th, April, Jibore Impeccable Foundation for Persons with Disabilties organized a sensitization program for students at the Muslim Community Grammar School, Oro Ago, Kwara State.
The program, attended by a predominantly teenage and adolescent audience sought to create awareness and enlightenment on the subject of “ Volunteering and Speaking Out Against Violence And Abuse”.
A guest speaker at the event simply known as Mr. Mr M. K. Adebayo, while highlighting some of the benefits of Volunteering was very emphatic. He said: “Volunteering is a sure path to limelight”.
Adebayo reminds the young audience that volunteering puts the volunteer in the mind of people. People will remember you as you keep yourself busy contributing to the betterment of society without pay. So, when opportunity comes along later, you will be easily recognized and recommended.
Adebayo went on to motivate the students with examples of well known individuals who rose to limelight through active volunteering.
Another speaker, Pastor Segun Babatunde, in his lecture defined Volunteering as “a decision to do something of one’s own free will without payment”.
The pastor enlightened the participants on the morale boosting impact on self actualization that volunteering has on the person doing it.
He adds: “Volunteering gives confidence for responsible thinking and this in turn leads to personal development”.
He observed that the human brain is divided into fore, middle, and hind brain – most of which we rarely use. Babatunde closed his talk with a charge to the students to task their brains more and do exploits.
At the end of the volunteer talks, participants were encouraged to express themselves. Responses were varied. Some said volunteering attracts God’s favor while others believe it offers experience and makes one a better person.
Founder of the Foundation, Joy Bolarin addressed the students on the subject of self esteem and the necessity of saying “NO” to violence and abuse.
Madam Jibore, as she is popularly known urged the young minds to be bold and courageous to speak out against molestation even in the face of threats.
In her words, “threats are meant to stop you from reporting. But you must be fearless and report as this will prevent further damage and harm”
The students were advised to shun fraud, cultism, and other vices. They are rather to engage in hard and smart work to earn legitimate money.
Highlight at the event was launching of The Jibore Foundation Volunteers Club with an impressive turn out of young volunteers.