Before I share some magical news with you today, I want to give a huge shout-out to the only person who left a comment on the last blog, Ufuomaee. And her community name idea was actually soooo cool. I love it, and yes that’s what I’ll be calling you henceforth. 

*In my most royal voice. 

“Kneel for the official knighting naming procession, dear one. 

By the power vested upon me as custodian of this blog, I hereby dub thee, STAR!

You may rise like the shining star that you are.”

Hellooooo, Star! How was the last week for you? A lot has been brewing on our end at Fair Life Africa, and I’m so thrilled that I finally get to spill the tea to you. Don’t tell management, but I sometimes feel like a secret spy watching everything unfold behind the curtains, only to come give you all the inside gist. 

The Magic of Giving Your Time and Morale Support 

You know, lately, I’ve been reminiscing about my secondary school days and how far I’ve come from that child who wanted to break stereotypes (I’m not that old though. At least I hope so, ha ha…) Because I was venturing into a male-dominated career path, I had a particular class where I was the only girl. The story was pretty much the same when I got into university. 

Yes, I had a few established female personnels that I really admired from afar and looked up to. But I really wish I had someone up close who could have pushed me to do more and take my course even more seriously. Who knows what heights I might have soared to if I had someone close who held me by my hand and showed me what’s possible beyond the limits that exist because of my gender and location. 

I strongly believe mentorship is vital for fast tracking a person’s success trajectory in life. There’s no hard rule about it. It just takes the availability of a person who is currently living a life that’s the aspiration of a willing learner. 

When people think about sponsoring a scholar through our Disadvantage to Advantage (D2A) Initiative, the first thing that usually comes to mind is school fees, uniform purchases, and textbook receipts. Yes, that financial backing is absolutely important, but true holistic sponsorship goes so much deeper.

I’m happy to let you know that Fair Life Africa isn’t just out to help our scholars financially. We’re also very much intentional about the all round growth of each individual under our proverbial wings. Our sponsors have been so wonderful in the support they offer our children, and we are especially thrilled when they reach out to us to arrange meetings with their kids.

This week, two of our scholars, including one of our university students, got the chance to hop on a call and chat directly with their sponsors about their studies, career aspirations, and future plans. The excitement in our scholars’ voices during this exchange was palpable. It was obvious they didn’t just feel supported; they felt seen, guided, and deeply cared for. 

Here’s my gentle nudge to all our sponsors and partners: You can make your sponsorship go farther by reaching out to your sponsored child every once in a while. That real connection is invaluable. We invite you to share your wisdom, offer your listening ear, and your time to connect with your sponsored child. A 20-minute check-in call, a quick word of advice on career pathways, or an encouraging message before exams can completely transform a young person’s confidence and ambition. 

If you’re yet to sponsor a child and would like to start a life-transforming sponsorship relationship with a child in need, we can match you up in no time. Contact us at: support @ fairlifeafrica.org stating your interest. 

The Spring Initiative Impact: We Raised ₦1.1 Million for Paul! 🎉🙏🏽

Dearest Star, my heart is overflowing as I write this… WE DID IT! 

Last month, we learned of 13-year-old Paul, diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), when his father, Victor, reached out to Fair Life Africa. Victor, a dedicated nurse earning roughly ₦100,000 a month, had already spent over ₦8 million, with support from friends and family, fighting for his son’s life since March. He was completely exhausted financially, and Paul’s chemotherapy had come to a dangerous halt because his platelet levels dropped too low. They needed ₦1.1 million for urgent blood transfusions, essential medications, and Apheresis platelets.

When Paul’s father’s appeal was presented in the ‘Development Room,’ I listened with bated breath to learn what would become of it. Other cases had been discussed about students in need of support with fees, rent and so on, but this was a little boy… And cancer is a big deal! 

The appeal was passed to the trustees to make their decision, and I have to say, I was so relieved to know that we were going to be campaigning for Paul! I saw the video of him connected to life-saving equipment at the hospital, and it broke my heart!

Well, the campaign for Paul officially kicked off on Monday. The team reached out to some faithful STARS privately, and I have the absolute best news: we have officially raised the full ₦1.1 million needed for his immediate medical care! 🎉🎉🎉

To everyone who donated, shared the flyer, prayed, and cheered Paul on: THANK YOU! You answered the call when it mattered most. Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, Paul can now resume his life-saving treatment safely!

All funds received in excess of Paul’s target will go directly into The Spring Initiative fund to help other desperate and vulnerable individuals facing critical emergencies and acute material hardship.

Busayo is one such recipient. She worked as a baker at a restaurant, until her mom got diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. She used up her savings caring for her mom (who is now much better, thank God!), and was unable to meet up with the rent. She reached out because she had been served an eviction notice. After a thorough review of the evidence she presented, the team agreed to assist with N100,000 to settle her rent deficit.

If you would like to empower us to help more people like Paul and Busayo, you can join our community of givers and make a donation to The Spring Initiative Fund via:

Bank: FCMB – Fair Life Africa Foundation (The Spring Initiative) – Account Number: 2001005283

You can choose to remain anonymous, or you can reach out to us on WhatsApp at (+234) 805 87 111 25. We would love to stay connected.  

Thank you for giving your resources, your time, and your hearts to build a fairer world for everyone. From my heart to yours, you are deeply appreciated.

Until next week, keep the magic shimmering, and let our guiding anchor be at the forefront of your mind: We give because we are blessed, and we are blessed because we give.

— Prazo