How teenagers and young adults can contribute to the society!

On a faithful day I saw the bubbles initiative picture on a friend’s whatsapp status and I quickly reached out to her that I wanted to volunteer for it. I have always had the heart for this but never really knew how far i could actually go for it.

I was added to the group, doing my observations and see where exactly I could fit in and made contributions were necessary. Then I was reached out by the project coordinator (Moyo) to head one of the sub groups which was transport and communications team. I was scared cause I didn’t know how to go about it, was scared of failing but she encouraged me and told me what to do and how to go about it. So yes I decided to head that team. So I went out with the team when necessary, to the market to buy foodstuffs, to sort out donations, to go identify with the community and engage it’s people. Basically engaged with fellow volunteers and get involved in the project. The day i was going to talk on Teens Time with Aunty Chi Chi on radio about how teens can contribute to the society, the same day i volunteered for Restructure Africa for the bubbles initiative. And during this period i was opportunied to meet new amazing people, experience and try new things. I got to head the transport and comm group for this outreach which entails providing transportation for donations and volunteers on the day of the event and what ran through my mind was how i was never prepared for this and didn’t know how to proceed, i have heard of other groups doing stuffs and achieving quite lot and i was like what if i fail? What if i pay for a bus and it never shows up? But i prayed about it and went on to do it and the bus came, achieved what it’s meant to and the event went well. And even more than what we all expected. Benefits of this for me was the whole experience, knowing how to relate with people, so if I see someone doing this particular thing, my reaction should not be why why why but how can this be done another way that the person might not even be aware of. Met new people, built relationships with amazing people, from Ochuko, Muyiwa, George, Rosemary (my senior in secondary school), Oyin, Moyo, Yemisi, Grace, IK, Vivian, Joshua and a host of others.

With Joshua

With Amarachi

With Vivian

With Muyiwa

With Joseph

With Rosemary

With Ochuko

With Yemisi

With Oyin

With Chizzy

With Wodo

With Sam

With Femi

With Sarah.

 And the craziest thing is that none of this people had any certified experiences in Volunteerism, although some had couple of outreaches done before but everyone mentioned above in their own little way gave time, money, energy. Owned it and made it look like their own. And together we all got new experiences, the opportunity to express oneself, the relationships built, the tons of smiles put on faces. So i’m using this post to challenge that teenager and young adult to change the narrative of oh when i get a lot of money or hit a gold rock i will Contribute to the society, although this might take a while but we also do the little we can. Even if or when you feel scared to start up something on your own, reach out to individuals, people, groups that currently do what you want to do, engage them, meet new people, exchange ideas, build relationships, go out of your comfort zone to do something extraordinary, not just for you but for people around you. I have never had any form of experience in volunteering or organizing transportation for a large number of people but  i wanted to and decided to and even with my little doubt, i went forward with it. Don’t let a little doubt stop you from achieving so much more, kill the doubt, the fear and go forward with that talent or idea.

Below are few ways you could contribute:

1. Learn about local issues: Is a roadblock affecting your commute to school? Are the new taxes affecting your family’s livelihood? Politics? Not getting the best out of school? Whatever the case, learning the issue will help in creating solutions that will have an impact on you. No one is to small to create a solution to a problem
2. Speak out: Speaking your mind online (through social media), and/or offline (at local meetings and gatherings) helps you assert yourself and your interests. Also, you never know who might be listening. Think before posting or saying anything, social media isn’t just only about pictures, take out time to contribute and support a positive cause. Social media has a long memory and things can never truly be deleted. So how do you want the media to remember you?
3. Network: There are many inspiring teenagers and youths like you around the world. Reach out to them. Learn about their efforts and initiatives, they might also work for you! Look for people doing amazing things in your community and see how you can build relationships and engage in projects.
4. Use your creativity: Photography, arts and crafts, dance, theatre, sports, street art, writing. Almost anything can be turned into an activist project. What are you good at? Translate it into civic activism!

5. Join/create a youth organization, NGO: Local youth organizations are great places to expand your knowledge and become an active member of your society. If your community doesn’t have an organization representing youth, create one, join an NGO. Be the trendsetter! Be the change you want to see, let it all start with you! Imagine you’re the only one of your kind doing this and be good at it!!! We all care about something, why not stand up for it… 

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This volunteer experience at restructure Africa opened my eyes to great possibilities on how I can help in the little way I can and most importantly I built relationships that will last quite a long while. Although it was a stressful one but the experiences, the opportunity to put smiles on the face of people, the relationships built. That I’ll never take back and cherish for life!!!
@restructureA
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