Words by Tess Becker
Finding ways to solve community problems can mean dividends for everyone around. A school in Nigeria found a way to clean up the community while also helping make schooling more accessible for people in the region.
In an unorthodox way to pay for tuition, the Morit International School in Ajegunle, Lagos, accepts plastic bottles. One plastic bottle equals one naira, the local currency, so parents can collect and bring in plastic bottles to be weighed to pay for their kid's schooling.
Students are also urged to bring in five bottles a day to teach them how to be ‘environmentally responsible children for the future.’
Going back about 10 years, locals noticed two problems; too much trash on the street, and local children unable to afford school, so they started the bottling plan.
“I grew up here. This is my way of giving back to my community,” Patrick Mbamarah, the founder of the school, said. “Nigeria has an excessive number of out-of-school children. That bothered me, therefore I decided to provide affordable education, no matter what, and that means pushing through any difficulties. I’m passionate about what I’m doing.”
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
J3 Foundation. They help kids in the Los Angeles area with early development. Find out more and support them here.
KID. They help support kids and families in crisis and with mental health support. Find out more.
Save the Children. A humanitarian org that helps kids around the world. Support them here.
