A Non-Governmental Organization, Infinity box Development Foundation, which recently launched its Feeding Literacy Almajiri Recycle Education, (FLARE Initiative) has appealed for financial support from the Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians in order to empower Almajiri children in the north on education, waste management, and food processing.
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The founder of the NGO, Ibrahim Ciroma said he launched the FLARE Initiative to transform Almajiris from age 6 to 20 into a skilled labour force and bridge the poverty gap between them and the children of middle-class Nigerians.

According to Ciroma, the Almajiri system can never stop, but a gradual social change is needed to transform their large population from being societal liabilities into assets.

Ciroma, a voluntary documentary and nature photographer identified on Instagram as @theflareinitiative, said he started the initiative when he bumped into suffering Almajiri children while on duty.
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He said “I was moved by the story of another photographer who took a picture of a child waiting to be consumed by a vulture but did nothing to help rescue him. I have been taking shots of Almajiri children for a while as a photographer and I’m moved by their plight.

He said the initiative which started as a CSR in 2018 in Baban Saura community in kaduna is aimed at addressing the significant educational and poverty challenges faced by Almajiri children in Northern Nigeria. This project proposal aims to bridge the educational gap between Almajiri children and their peers in Western-style schools, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He further expalained that the “project is in 3 phases. the 1st phase consists of giving the selected Almajiris Educational, Vocational, Hygiene, Feeding, and Mini Processing Plant knowledge. The processing aspect of the innitive is to ensure that their schools remain sustainable and to avoid sending the children begging by their teachers.
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“The vocational aspect is to get them engaged in meaningful activities. We are currently having conversation with the National Board for Technical Education,(NBTE) and they are intrested in collaborating for the vocational aspect of the project.

“The 2nd phase consists of provision of Infrastructure, Kitchen (Under Feeding), Storage Facilities, and Workstation Facilities, while the 3rd phase consists of Waste Management and Recycling Infrastructure training.”

He said since the inception of the project, they have enrolled over 50 Almajiris for educational support, and as well started a transformation in language for them, where the children learn basic English and arithmetic. “The project will be implemented over a period of 3 years, commencing on September 2023 and concluding on September 2026 and the estimated budget for Phase 1 is N 132,144,000,’ he added.

According to the FLARE Initiative founder, “Since the project’s inception, we have successfully enrolled and provided educational support to more than 50 Almajiri students. Through dedicated efforts, we have been able to bridge a bit of the educational gap, and acquire essential skills for their future success.
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“Inclusion of Adult Learners: In addition to the Almajiri students, we have also extended our program to cater to the educational needs of over 10 adult learners. However, sustaining their involvement has presented challenges due to the language barrier. Our team recognizes the importance of addressing this issue to ensure inclusivity and is actively working on solutions.

He however noted that “despite these achievements, we acknowledge the challenges faced due to limited financial resources. The dedication and involvement of volunteers have been hindered, preventing us from maximizing the project’s impact.

“To overcome this hurdle, we are actively seeking sustainable funding to incentivize and support volunteer participation. These milestones underscore the immense promise and potential of our project. With continued support and collaboration, we are confident in our ability to further expand and enhance the project’s reach to other northern states.”
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