Advocacy Visit for Reconstruction of twenty eight classrooms in Mubi and Michika

As part of the commitment of the RTL project to make education assessable to out-of-school and school-drop-out pupils in Mubi and Michika, there is a plan to renovate 28 classrooms in both LGA’s.

To achieve this, the project intends to involve community people in the renovation and reconstruction activities in a bid to foster ownership. Thus the need to visit community leaders and traditional rulers to intimate them on this plan and seek their support and guidance where necessary.

DELIBERATIONS

On the 16 th of July, 2018, the team visited community leaders of areas where AUN is currently implementing the RTL project in Mubi South LGA to discuss community involvement in the reconstruction of classroom blocks in select primary schools and the plan to use Food-for-Work as remuneration.

At SEBORE, the school principal, Mai Anguwa, SBMC and CEC chairmen were in attendance. They appreciated AUN and Streetchild for bringing this laudable project to them. They were however of the opinion that instead of the food for work, the project should please monetize the cost for the food and provide the workers with the stipend.

The SBMC chairman promised to support the renovation and mobilize his members who are artisans doing brick laying and carpentry work. At WURO PATUJI and MUGULBU, in attendance were the SBMC and CEC chairmen, representative of the school principal and youth leader. After advancing the idea of the Food-for-work (FFW) to the community heads, they were happy we plan using the community people in the renovation process and promised to help where  necessary but solicited to the team to advance the idea of monetizing the cost for food and provide workers with stipend. In the words of the Ardo of Mugulbu, “when you feed a family man for the work done in a whole day, what does he take home for his family”.

Haj. Amina Adamu, representing the principal of Wuro Patuji primary school appreciated the AUN and Streetchild for giving their school a facelift and promised to personally monitor and ensure the work is done to specification and provide assistance where necessary.

On the 18 th of July; 2018, the team passed to Michika LGA for the advocacy visit.

With respect to the two centers in TSUKUMU and TUDUN WADA, the team stopped at the palace of the Hakimi of Bazza district, Alh. Saidu Bashir Lawan. In attendance were the PTA chairmen and Head masters of Tsukumu and Tudun Wada Primary schools. The meeting opened with a prayer and Hajiya Turai A.A Kadir gave the rationale behind the visit and discussed the renovation project.

She advanced the idea of the Food-for-Work and sort for cooperation and advice from the traditional leader. Pastor Raymond also reiterated that the reason for the community participation is to give them a sense of ownership and responsibility. The Hakimi was pleased to receive the AUN team and appreciated the renovation idea. He however pleaded with the management of the project to monetize the cost of feeding and provide the cash equivalent no matter how small. He also tasked the school head masters to plan a meeting with him and the SBMC and CEC leadership as well as the youth leader to strategize on how to design a register for the materials to be provided for accountability. The HM of both schools promised to provide a store where the materials will be kept for safety and appreciated the effort AUN and Streetchild are making towards making education accessible to all in the community.

At ZAIBADARI, Pastor Raymond started the deliberations after a word of prayer. He gave the background and rationale behind the visit. Hajiya Turai and Sarah Passa made more emphasis on the importance of community participation in the renovation of the classrooms. Same feedback regarding the monetization of the cost for the food to be paid as stipend for the work was pleaded for by the Head master and PTA chairman of Zaibadari school. All the stakeholders in attendance assured the team that they will give their best to ensure the project succeeds. The headmaster showed his appreciation for this renovation and said a prayer for the team. The meeting was closed with a prayer by the PTA chairman.

The visit was highly successful and the aim of community sensitization and participation in the renovation project was achieved. The team got massive support from the Hakimi’s, Ardo’s, Jauro’s, Mai Anguwa, Youth leaders etc. that were visited.