Bringing Netball Back Club is a club that provides...
"both veteran and new to the sport, the opportunity to play netball on a regular basis."
Apart form the usual practise, matches and promoting the game; they do visit the orphanage in Ogun state. It's the state next door to Lagos (state). Newcomers would be a little bit confused about Lagos. The fact it is a state and also an area within the state itself (in the next post, will explain).
The trip on Saturday 19th, March 2106 was memorable. We left Lagos Island around 7plus in the morning, a convoy of three 4wd with members of the club including me, Madam and my daughter.
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| on-going renovation for the dedicated bus lane |
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Busses of Lagos
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blur picture...but you get the idea, just beside
main road...how convenient |
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| Bus stop at Iyana Ipaja, Lagos |
The trip was exciting. I've been to Ogun before. All the way to Abeokuta attending a function there. This time, another set of route. Totally different than the previous one I travelled. The last time, I travelled on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. This time it's the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, explained the driver.
I would say, this route is livelier than the one before. Of course the yellow 'danfo' (van/minibus) is the King of the Road! The drivers must have death wish driving the van and obviously driving as fast as they could....The odometer obviously not showing them how fast they're driving, but how fast they're not going.
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| yellow danfo |
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| a bus with danfo colors |
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| Lagos-Oguz state border in the distance |
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| Welcome to Ogun State |
A small but busy roundabout marks the border between these two states. I am crazy about borders between countries and over here, between states is a hive of activities. People getting from one danfo to another, a pedler selling his wares, mothers with children crossing the road...men and women with same coloured fabric off to wedding reception, trucks navigating the road slowly while honking incessantly...
We drove further into Ogun towards Abeokuta when we took a right turn at the next junction. The expressway is still under construction and it will be many moons before they get it done. But the project is huge including some bridges over rivers and train tracks.
The lead car exited the expressway and into the dirt road all the way to the orphanage. It was about a 10 minute drive from the main road till we met the signage leading to the house right at the edge of the area and turn right into Peace Valley.
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| The signage of FAVID |
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| Peace Valley |
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| The orphanage |
OK, can I say this....I felt numb when I entered the place. It made me think how lucky my brother is back home in Malaysia.
FAVID (Family Vocational Institute for Disabled)
A shelter, a school, a family created for all especially the disabled children. To Rev. Ikon Usuyak, it was a calling from God; even with as little as N400 (about RM 7.80 or USD 2.10 or Euro 1.75) in his pocket the school was established in 1996.
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| members of the club |
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| the man himself |
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| explaining how each and every child came to his care |
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| the eldest child in the shelter |
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| in a moment of silence... |
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showing the waterhole where they used
to get water from |
From the website:
FORMS OF ASSISTANCE ENVISAGED
The organization shall be rendering assistance in a dynamic form as the form of individual challenges varies from one person to the other.
By so doing, the organization aims to help the less privileged through the following ways:
- Provision of clothing materials.
- Provision of accommodation for in-house children.
- Provision of food stuffs.
- Provision of financial assistance toward supporting education / vocational trainings.
- Provision of various supplements to take care of their health when needed.
- Most essentially, provision of love showing them that we “TRULY CARE FOR THEM”.
The BNB club, apart from giving donation also brought with them food provisions bought by the members for the children. The children were very happy to see the packet drinks and that was the first to be given out. Something so simple and cheap, a luxury for them. Sad...
This is the most difficult posting by far. I have the ending in mind, typed it and re-edit and lastly just left it out. This is what I wish... a more pronounced, noticeable, distinct assistance from the administration of the day and can we please not have any stigma towards the disabled children/adult even babies that were born prematurely? I think with proper education and support, in this 20th century.... we can. Abeg! Naija beta than dis O...abi ?
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