Uncategorized Archives

ATLAS donates wheelchair

When Kehinde Fatai woke up yesterday, it must have seemed like another regular day. The wonderful and vibrant 11 year old twin lives with her parents and siblings in Sangotedo, a community in Ajah, Lagos State. Kehinde has lived with a physical disability since birth. This hindered her access to formal education. While her peers and siblings rushed to school every morning before the outbreak of COVID-19, the young Kehinde stayed at home in this natural confinement since her struggling parents can’t afford to send her to a school for children with special needs.

Sometime ago, one of our volunteers, Stella Akingboye, who is located at Ajah identified Kehinde, noticed her physical disability realizing how it had deprived her of benefits that life has to offer. Stella shared this compelling story with the team and we reached out to Kehinde, and promised to get her a wheelchair and the education she deserves.

We fulfilled part of that promise yesterday, with a surprise visit to Kehinde’s family. You can imagine her excitement! Of course, given how much we love learning, we gifted some books from our library for the kids to read and improve their literacy. We, also gave some foodstuffs and hand hygiene supplies to her family.

Kehinde’s story is just one, out of many. This is our little way of bringing a smile to a child’s face to celebrate this year’s children’s day. Many thanks to all our donors for making this possible.

Please support a child like Kehinde today through ATLAS Initiative. Visit www.atlas.org.ng to find out how.

21 Feb

Child Bullying – It’s Effects and Lasting Solutions

Civic Participation, Uncategorized by wp_atlas

Bullying is an act perpetrated by one or more individuals, who intentionally cause fear, harm or intimidation to others.

It’s a disturbing fact that children all over the world are being bullied on a daily basis, but it’s even more disturbing when you find out that your child is being bullied. Most bullying occurs at school where children come together every day, making it almost unavoidable.

Children who are being bullied usually keep this problem to themselves, because they think that telling a teacher or a parent could result in a dilemma which could fuel up the bullying. They become quiet and withdraw from participation, and sometimes display anger tantrums or show signs of bullying their younger siblings at home.

Child Bullying is also one of the key reasons kids stay out of school regardless of their parents being able to afford to send them to school, many kids do not want to go to school because of this issue. Bullying has a negative impact on child’s performance in school. They become timid and are shy to ask questions in class relating to their studies.

Parents are usually the last to know if their child is being bullied, so it’s essential for them to look out for signs. So what would you do if you find that your child is being bullied? Confront the bully? Confront the bully’s parents? Confront the teacher for doing nothing? Report the problem to your child’s school?

Firstly, consider your child’s feelings. If they are willing to talk to you about the problem, then try to work through a lasting solution with them. Remember, it is your child who is the victim so let them know that you will support them in their decision. It might be that your child is being bullied by several other children and any rash decisions taken by you could make matters worse.

If matters do get worse you might have to consider removing your child from the school, but that’s no guarantee that a similar problem won’t occur in another school. Hence the need to find a lasting solution. Another point to consider is the level of bullying. It may well start with verbal abuse leading to psychological torment and eventually result in physical violence.

If you speculate that your child is being bulled, it can lead to a real dilemma, and as a responsible parent, you have to make the right decision based on the facts. But there is also one other option that might just outweigh all the others, and that’s to make your child “bully-proof”.

Bullies tend to pick on kids who they consider to be weaker than them, or have a disability or are timid or are not able to fight back. They use fear to dominate their victims. If you could teach your child to face up to the bully and to defend them self, even physically if they have to, then the bully will no doubt find another, easier victim to pick on.

You should also consider building your child’s confidence, feeling confident in one’s self is a sure way to face any dilemma. Ensure your child’s self-confidence is worked on so that they wouldn’t be shy to talk or express themselves outside.

Happy New Year

Uncategorized by wp_atlas

Looking back at the year 2017 , we reflect on our achievements , challenges and of course – our apex moments on the field.

Is been nothing but impeccable and priceless gift to mankind at this very age when selfless, unconditional and steady love to one another is medicine to many troubled souls.

As passionate volunteers we are proud that we made every moment count and accounted for. We are thankful that good health of body and mind is our greatest reward for our little contributions to our society, country and mankind.

We say thank you to everyone that encouraged and supported us in this journey thus far and we hope we were able to convince the skeptics that volunteering is the best definition of life and how it should be lived.

Is another year but still the same vision to achieve an improved world where lifelong learning is accessible and embraced by everyone

We believe that the best is yet to come, as the year 2018 reassures us of many possibilities, opportunities and time frame to be our true selves through volunteering .

Happy New Year !

Community Engagement

Uncategorized by wp_atlas

As our Culture, we practice seasoned engagement ranging from our sitting position to our feedback sessions and to energizer.

We understand that for an effective development and general result in our work, engaging ourselves first and the community we serve is key and fundamental.

Community engagement is about involving the people you serve, not just as beneficiaries of your projects but as partners in accomplishing your mission – Hillary Binder-Aviles, independent NGO Consultant .

When people are actively engaged in efforts to improve their own lives and their neighbor’s lives, they become more aware of issues and committed to solving them. They also learn new skills and gain confidence in their ability to effect change; Engagement is Empowerment .

With engagement comes the 21st century skills (Communication, Creativity, Critical thinking, Collaboration and Cross-cultural competence) which we believe is paramount for youth participation in governance, self development and Community development .

24 Dec

Volunteer Mindset

Uncategorized by wp_atlas

We’ve come to understand over the years the power of mindset and of course what we can do with such power .

Hence, it is eminent for us to have the right mindset as a prerequisite to achieving our goals.

Our mindset then is “thinking globally ” which have given birth to numerous and continuous results that we take pride in.

The Mind of a Volunteer is key to collabration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and crosscultural competence. The importance is one that brings the best out of our team and makes sustainability fun and appetising .

We encourage our team members to practice discipline, and to live their life appreciating hard work and most importantly commitment .

The Mind of any Volunteer can build a nation or destroy her.

27 Nov

Orange The World

Uncategorized by wp_atlas

Women across the world are subjected to physical, sexual, psychological , and economic violence , regardless of their income , age or education. Such violence can lead to long-term physical, mental and emotional health problems. Around one third of women worldwide have experienced physical and /or sexual violence by an intimate partner or by a non- partner at some point in their lives – World Women 2015 (UN) . About 62% of Nigerian women have experienced domestic violence more than once but have to cover it up, sometimes out of shame or traditional shenanigans. It is a big problem and one that have to be addressed before it becomes a culture.

We understand the power of voice, hence we stand together with Arise Nigerian Women Foundation, Community women’s Right foundation, and Humanity Family Foundation For Peace and Development (Huffped) to sign a petition against violence to women, the very mothers of our next generation and the complete element of creation.

Our women are not Punching Bags and neither are they less than man. They are strong and patient which they’ve continued to show while pregnant and during childbirth and most importantly in keeping a home .

4 Nov

ATLAS CULTURE

Civic Participation, Uncategorized by wp_atlas

Looking back at the year 2017 , we reflect on our achievements , challenges and of course – our apex moments at space meetings.

Is been nothing but impeccable and priceless gift to mankind at this very age when selfless, unconditional and steady love to one another is medicine to many troubled souls.

Is another year but still the same vision of fight against poverty, illiteracy, abuse, moral decadence and most importantly exclusion.

We believe that the best is yet to come, as the year 2018 reassures us of many possibilities, opportunities and time frame to be our true life through volunteering .

Happy New Year !