Meet Elizabeth Aladelokun, Project Lead of Food Drive Project, an alumnus of the United Nation Millennium fellowship. This is her #COVIDPositiveStory:
The name of our COVID-19 Impact project is the Food Drive, a standalone project that was inspired by a conversation with a mentor around the difficulty of accessing food for the vulnerable family during the lockdown. About 50 per cent of Nigerians are in the informal economy and live in small communities and with the lockdown, it is obvious that people will suffer.
The project aimed to feed 100 families in slums, with the theme “I can feed a family but we can feed 100 families” and “Feed the slum challenge.” We went for community mapping, where we heard from the community members on how they have been feeding in the midst of the lockdown and we made a video on it which we sent to our supporters in order to raise funds.
We carried out the project on the 30th of April, with the help of the community leaders, ensuring appropriate social distancing, we distributed food to them, conducted health education sessions on COVID-19, hygiene, and proper nutrition.
A video was sent to us from the community leaders containing stories from the beneficiaries being appreciative because of the relief package.
Sustainability plans towards the program are to collaborate with other organizations who are interested in advancing zero hunger and also Firms that food. The project will definitely continue after Covid-19 and in a broader scope.
The project has taught me a personal lesson on activism, mobilizing people, project management, appropriate delegations, leadership skills, and also the creation of smart goals. I was inspired to go ahead with this project against all odds by the encouragement and advice from my mentor and close friends.
My advice to young people is to understand that we are the change we are waiting for and we should be actively involved in situations that occur in our environment.
