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So many people just throw their hands up and now well we can't solve this.
Search this video
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This is unsolvable and I love love love that you've both proven that is wrong.
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So we have taken children from the street who are once nobody and some of those children are today they are coding they are professionals in IT.
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Disability is a perception in people's mind.
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They see a disability before they see a human being.
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I'm a strong believer that you know disability without education becomes a double ability.
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My class was on the third floor.
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No lift, no elevator and the toilets bathroom were downstairs.
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So for me to manage from 8 up to 12 I never used to take anything in the morning.
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I had to fast so that I avoid going to the bathroom.
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There are part of Nigeria who believe that at a certain age of your life within the age of 10 and 18 you should be on the street as a male child.
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But going on the street may not be the problem but the level in which we stigmatize those who are on the street.
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When you see any child, remember you see a future. Well, hello everyone.
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It's Jim Oanaughy with yet another Infinite Loops.
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Today is a very special episode for me because I'm having two of our OSV grantees on to tell their stories which I find incredibly remarkable.
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These two men have achieved things uh in the face of great adversity and they didn't let it keep them down as it had the opposite effect.
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It had the effect of both lifting themselves up but then helping and turning around and lifting others up as well.
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So please welcome my two guests Myoba Humaha. Am I getting that right? It's Hamohuma. Hamuma. Okay. Yes.
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As an Oshani who often al has to correct people. I I get it.
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And Israel Bologan Balogan, right? Yes. You got it right. I got it right.
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You know, the best way to start this is to for both of you to share in full your stories because they're so remarkable and many people in the West don't quite understand what people in Africa have to go through um in a daily existence.
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I've been to Africa many times.
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I love Africans and Africa and you are both of you are so inspiring that just hearing about what you overcame and what you're doing now I think is a great uh leadin.
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So Myoba let's start with you and then we'll have Israel tell his story.
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Yeah, thank you very much.
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I think before I can start telling my story, I want to say a huge thank you to Anna who has been trying to arrange this meeting for some time now.
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Apart from that, I would want to say a huge huge thank you to you, Mr. J.
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Moes for creating time to be with us today.
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I know you're a very busy person, but just you creating time for us, it means a lot to me. It means a lot to us. It's my pleasure. Thank you so very much. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. So, my name is Morham.
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Just the way you said it earlier on.
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I was born on 28th February 1978. U in a family of four.
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Unfortunately, I lost my parents when I was just 11 and 12.
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I was diagnosed with polio when I was 10. I was vaccinated.
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I don't know how I had polio.
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Of course, it was not an easy journey for me.
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You know one thing that I believe in that as a human being we live on the basis of hope and that every night it has got its own morning.
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So of course I was like that I was adopted by an Irish man who is also now late the Catholic brother John from Ireland and I'm like that my parents before they died they always told me that if you want to go to school that will be the end for you.
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I'm a strong believer that you know disability without education becomes a double disability.
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So I've been a wiz for some time now.
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Of course I'm going to be a bit cozy.
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I mean I don't want people of course to be bored.
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So of course you know for me just to attend prime education it was not easy you know whereas now you using a wheelchair and schools are not accessible.
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It was not easy but life became more difficult when I went to college.
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Of course I was pursuing some computer studies. This is at home college.
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You know my class was on the third floor.
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No, no lift, no elevator, nothing completely but stairs all up to the third floor and it was not easy and the toilets bathroom were downstairs.
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So for me to manage from 8 up to 12 I never used to take anything in the morning.
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I had to fast so that I avoid going to the bathroom.
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But I was lucky that know I was one of the guys that was loved and the entire college this is a huge college in Zambia.
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I was the only guy on a wheelchair only guy just for me to be accepted. it was an issue.
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I involve the minister they said no but how did you get accepted said but I was accepted I applied and I got this acceptance letter why don't you go to an init I said no no no I want to be here cuz I'm capable I've got the capacities here and I'm lucky I had a lot of friends of course there's this lady by the name of Njo she now works for the banka she always made sure that I don't miss any single class and I was even chosen as the class trip.
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So I was in charge of the class despite me on being on a wheelchair because I saw capabilities in me and I was happy that everyone appreciated what I was doing class.
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So after seeing what I went through I was like it's not diffic it's not easy for somebody with this ability to access education and the only way for me to make it in life is by me attaining education.
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I'm here today talking to an important man Mr.
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John because of what because of education it has given platform for me to be able to interact with people like you.
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So when I see what I've gone through, this is what made me to come up with an organization called United Abilities.
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And luckily through the OSV grant and I'm proud that I'm the 2024 OSV grant winner, it has really made a huge impact in my life.
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And not only that, it has even opened doors for me and the organization.
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You know, I received so many messages from people.
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Of course, these are potential applicants and I'm helping them now and then give them hints how to apply and others even now wanting to work with me like now we are applying for a grant under the European Union.
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Of course, I'm going through the first round with our partner SOS villages Zambia and this gentleman is speed I think has also applied.
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He was so happy to help us the paddle creation of the paddle ID number.
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You see the connections another lady also from India Fatima she's working on something on mental health and now already working together she has also supplied so I can see that OSV has opened doors here and there you know partnership is not all about money but it's also about exchanging ideas experiences and then you grow remember as human beings we live on the basis of hope and I've got hope and I know that one day or make it big time.
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Thank you for uh the laudatory comments about the OSV grant, but I have to differ with you and and say that this is you.
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This is you as taking the agency that you did, your story is amazing.
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The idea that you had to be carried up to the third floor because there was no lift, that you wouldn't eat or drink anything to avoid going to the bathroom, that couldn't have been good for your health.
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You you you have achieved amazing things and you know the idea that your life like you've achieved amazing things in the face of a great deal of adversity. Thanks very much.
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So, so, so we are incredibly impressed by you and your organization.
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We're going to come back and and have you describe the organization in a bit, but for now, Israel, you were born in Nigeria to a poor family with 26 siblings and ended up living on the streets at age 10.
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You weren't able to read or write until age 22.
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But then you had a transformative experience when a good Samaritan helped you pursue your education.
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Now you have master's degree and have dedicated your life to ensuring no child needs to live on the street.
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Please please tell us your story as well. Thank you Jim.
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I appreciate the time talking to you.
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I appreciate the whole team of um OSV for the opportunity given to me and our organizations to be part of this uh program. My name is Israel.
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I am born in Nigeria to a family of four wives to my father and 26 siblings.
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At the age of 10, I have to leave my family.
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I became homeless because parents could not feed us.
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We have to stay a whole day without food.
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So one day in my area I saw young some young guys scavenging and I followed them unfollowed them on that very day.
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That was a day when I choose to say the street is better than staying in my home because I came back home a lot of money to buy a lot of food.
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I fed myself and I was so satisfied.
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But that little step I took that very night when I said I'm not going back home anymore led me to live on the street for 12 years within the age of 10 and 22.
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I had no formal educations, no training.
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I was just a street child.
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So one day while I was living on the street because it's part of the split to involve a split fight.
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You must belong to a gang and belong fight whenever it is time to fight for your gang.
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So I have to fight on that very day.
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But it seems the fight was I was the target of everybody.
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All descended on me with attempt to kill me.
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There I sustained a lot of injuries.
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If I open my chest for you, you will see a lot of mark from here.
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I was caught all down to my to the to the to my tummy. I was caught here.
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I was caught here at my back. A lot of injuries.
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So I was left on that spot to die.
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But somebody saw me there and the person took me home and he gave me that opportunity to stay in his house.
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That very night when this person took me to his house for the for 12 years I have opportunity of somebody closing the door and saying good night to me.
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Somebody knock my door in the morning and say good morning your food is ready.
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12 years I've never had such a thing.
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That gave me a kind of new experience of life.
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I wanted to live like that forever in my life.
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I don't want to go back to where it's either somebody kick me or say stand up police is coming or there's a breakout fight and you just have to run for your life.
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I don't want to go back to that kind of environment anymore because I saw a place where somebody gave me a clo and say cover your body when you sleep and I was able to walk up in the morning I did not do anything but I have something to eat.
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where this person could not keep him more than 6 months because he himself cannot uh provide for me.
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He called me after 6 month of staying with me that I have to leave because he cannot uh provide for me anymore.
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But that 6 month was all I needed for my change of my story because right when I was in his house I saw children going to school.
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Then I asked who are these children? Who are they going to?
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He said they are going to school. What is school? I wanted to know.
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So I asked them and they explained everything.
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Within that six months I saw another man.
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He has a very huge hair on his head and he has a very wide party a kind of party on his head and he carry big book and every time he goes they call him professor.
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Then I asked who is this person?
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They said he's a kind of person who have gone to school and has read a lot of books and he's now teaching in university and stuff.
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I said to them I want to be like him.
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So when I left this man after 6 months I knew what I wanted to become.
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I wanted to become that professor.
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So at the age of 22 I went back and I started riding.
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There is an auto bike that you use for service in Nigeria.
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You can carry people on your back and they pay you.
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So I went to look for somebody who has it that can deliver to every day.
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So I started riding that bike.
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I wrote it and any money I got from it, I hired a private teacher.
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This woman started teaching me alphabets. A B C D.
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She taught me on how to 1 + 1 is two.
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I don't know any of these things before.
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She was able to teach me for two years.
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I was going for this private lesson.
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After two years I sat down for my we call it west African examination and I was able to pass.
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After this I sat for my jam.
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Jam is joint metriculation exam that you used to enter university.
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I was able to get admission to university.
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Then I went to university.
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I had master from University of Ibada.
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But something happened to me when I finished my school.
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All the time I was in school.
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Anytime I see a child walking on the street, I remember my life.
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I feel like these people are connected to me.
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It's like I am supposed to help that child.
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I am supposed to meet that child.
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I'm supposed to provide a platform for that child.
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Just like that man gave me that platform for transformation of mind, giving me opportunity to find my life and to go after it.
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So when I finished I decided in my heart as far as I love as far as I live I'm going to create an inclusive space where every child who is on the street will be able to find a place where they can discover develop and explore their talent.
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when this dream is coming to life because of the opportunity I got from OSV some months ago because with that opportunity we are able to secure needed land that we want to use to construct this inclusive environment.
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Of course, apparently we have homes that we rented that we our children are we have up to 42 of them right now.
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But our dream is to make sure no child no child is found on the street anymore.
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And then the the kind of space we needed that is s self sustaining.
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We plan it in a way that we can grow our own feed food.
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We can generate our own power through solar.
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We can harvest our water through rain water.
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We can run the village sustainably and the children the young staff the homeless will be the one who is running this village by themselves sustaining themsel with their own living in their own space.
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So we are able to secure this land.
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We at the point where we say we are need of help for us to be able to go further and implement this project. Thank you so much.
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Again, just from from someone in the west listening to your stories, it just seems that you both overcame like almost astronomical odds against and and I think both of you are incredible north stars for others to follow similar paths.
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Um, Israel, once a youngster in your communities, their immediate needs are met, what's the next step?
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Do you have a right of passage or do you give them a responsibility that changes them from, you know, a street kid who just was almost feral, right, in your community?
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You you you rid them of that.
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But h how do you know when they've moved on to be agents of their own destiny?
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So Jim, let me say that we focus we focus more on the value that the street give to you rather than the negativity that come with the street.
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We our organization is called a in my dialect in my local language.
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When I call you a it means you have demonstrated fearlessness.
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You have demonstrated courage.
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You have demonstrated, you have demonstrated warrior, you have demonstrated resilience.
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So we focus on that in them and that is exactly what drives our program.
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So when we take you, we know you are on the street and you are addicted to several things, drug is part of it, violent behavior, stealing and all stuff.
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So within four six months we deal with those behaviors and we also make sure literacy and basic mathematics we take it through it because the moment you are able to read and write and you can solve little mathematics then you can make a choice.
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This that second thing we focus on within that 6 months.
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The third thing is that we take you through self-discovery.
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So within that six months you go through a program we call storytelling sport and all.
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all. So during that time youngsters are able to discover themselves and they are able to say this is who I want to become and after that six months then it's under that second phase where you you kickstart your life by finding what you
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want to become either you want to go back to school or you want to learn a vocations or whatever you want to do that will push you further that six months will give you a platform where you discover it and also you are allowed to make mistake you allowed to say I
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know I said I want to become but now I discovered that is not what I want to be I want to change it because I wanted to become a professor but now I don't want to be a professor anymore now I want to stand and create inclusive environment
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for children who are homeless so you are you have the chance to say I wanted to be like this but I discovered this not what I want to be anymore what we say is in as much as you are ready to take responsibility for your and you are firm and sure about it. We
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We will give you the inclusive environment. We have a philosophy.
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We are not changing you but we are catalyst in the process of your whole change. That's what we do. Sir, amazing.
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Uh you for you dignity has sort of been your north star.
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Um, if you were helping policymakers, what metrics would you suggest that they measure to ensure this for kids with disabilities uh in mainstream classrooms? Yeah, thanks very much.
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I think before I could maybe talk about the policy makers and also the duty bearers, I want to mention that you see through the OSV grant that received last year, I am happy to report to the listeners that are watching us here that know through the grant know we are able firstly to identify children that were hidden these homes.
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Not only that we had these children assessed by the medical personnels but not only being assessed we also work with the government agents that is in charge of the tabs in Zambia is called the Zambia agents for persons with abilities and I'm happy to mention here that we are the first nonprofit organization to support such an activity and now other organizations are following suit now.
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following suit now. So whereas these children were identified of course you sensitize them on their rights after being sensitized of course they registered are now being issued with a bit cards and you know this Zabit card is a passport in Zambia for any
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child or anybody's ability to access social services and you know last year we had hunger in Zambia due to drought you know climate change is real so a number of student now were able to access some food packs social cash transfer even now being attended to in hospitals using the same card. Now you have asked me a very
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card. Now you have asked me a very pertinent question of course also provided them with some devices whereas other children like this other girl that I met you know I look at myself I'm some stability but when I saw that leg that village I felt very bad this is a girl
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that was rolling like a snake for 27 years but now OSV comes on board and the child is happy now the child's now able to go to church the child's now able to go to the ground to watch football and other activities is participating in commit activities such kind of things they bring a smile on my face. Now you have asked me a question how
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Now you have asked me a question how could we engage policy makers for them to buy in and ensure that children they also given a platform or a space in these classrooms.
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Firstly, I think you know when you talk about disability, it's all about perception.
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People always take people that these are nonp performers.
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So whereas everyone plays a blind eye when it comes to inclusive policies.
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So the best advice that I would give of course to policy makers firstly they should know that no disability can come to anyone.
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There's no cut off point when become disabled.
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So they should always prepare the best for the future cuz one day it might be their children.
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So the best is always to think just to be inclusive in their thinking so that each and everyone feels part and parcel of the society.
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You cannot boast of development when others are being neglected or sidelined.
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So the best is for policy makers firstly to engage these parents to hear their children abilities and also their children themselves.
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They should also be that less each and every school that is being built is made accessible to children's abilities and also the curriculum in these education colleges.
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They should ensure that it also cutters for inclusion that each and every teacher that is enrolled they are trained in inclusion.
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I know of course now they brought this basics inclusion but should be mandatory that each and every teacher that is not their trained inclusive education by doing such we are going to have more teacher that will appreciate disability even of is going to increase because each and everyone will be responsible and accountable.
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I think that's a very noble way of looking at it.
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Um you also give advice uh to the caregivers, the families that entrepreneurship uh microenterprises might be better uh for them than seeking wage employment or direct uh cash transfers.
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Uh why why do you why do you recommend that over over traditional employment or seeking a government or charitable assistance? Yeah, thanks very much.
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I think first one thing that we should bear in mind or my experience.
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Firstly, I think I'll give a very good example.
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My mom was trained as a nurse.
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My mom the moment she noticed that disability, it was very difficult for her to search or to to put for work.
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You know, when you have got a child with disability, especially here in Africa, it is taken as a as a burden.
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So you find that even women we transfer responsibilities to the mother whereas even marriages in these homes they are shaken even abuse gender based violence they are very high cases in these homes why because always women or mothers accuse that you are the cause of this child where I come from we don't have children abilities so you find that it's very difficult for them to be employed cuz they need to be this child 24/7.
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24/7. So the best way is by them having an enterprise where they can be managing their merchandise, the businesses and the child is also just next to them and we have seen that in this way it's the best and not only that you find that
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you're also going to secure the life of this child with its ability cuz once the mother is empowered then the child also be automatically empowered but even the entire family and I've noticed where a mother of the child with disabilities is empowered
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Even now the man sees oh my wife is also now contributing something you find that they living happily but others they still abuse their wives where the moment they see that they doing something constructive they'll get that capital so that's why now we come
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in to make sure that we monitor and adise them and sust them and I also feel that you see in this world where we are now of course also talking about digital inclusion and other I think everything now is just digitalized in terms of business. I feel
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I feel I think if also these mothers could also just be given some skills in computers, they could also be able to sell their merchandise via WhatsApp or maybe Facebook, even other social media platforms.
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In that way, they could still be seated at home and they selling their merchandise to everyone and people be able to order things via Facebook, WhatsApp.
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As long as I just train you the basics, I'm sure their lives will never be the same.
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And that's the only how we are going to fight poverty.
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These families, I've seen families, especially like last year, early this year when we had hunger situations.
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I saw families going for two, three days not having any form of food because they don't have anything.
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They rely on maybe us to give them something.
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But if they're doing something in that way, they'll be able to sustain themselves.
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even just gardening it makes a difference.
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So I feel by empowering these mothers we sustain the life of that child with a disability and even strengthen the families in that way. Yeah.
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And I I think it also uh gives them a real sense of agency and control over their own future that they might not have if they're getting assistance or um uh trying to trying to juggle the commitment to stay at home, right?
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Uh with with a a traditional job.
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what what single narrative about disability in Zambia needs to be rewritten and and how are you contributing to that?
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Yeah, I think firstly uh you see just how I said it first disability is a perception people's mind.
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They see a disability before they see a human being. Okay.
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So I always tell my colleagues diabetes that you see firstly you are not here to prove any anything to anybody that you are cap capable.
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No, all that you need is to fight for your space platform then showcase your abilities.
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There's no limitation for want to create wealth.
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No limitation to wealth creation but all that you need is the brains.
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Each and every one of us has got a talent.
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Identify your talent, utilize it.
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It's high time people also own their own destiny.
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But of course the government is supposed to create an enable environment where each and everyone feels that I belong here by ensuring that opportunities are availed.
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We don't want free things no but we just want the platform and those opportunities that are being availed to other people.
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That is a very forceful argument because it also uh suggests that you're saying look just give us the platform and then let us prove ourselves which is which is an amazing way to look at it.
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Um is Israel um the stereotype of Nigerian street kids is often that they're dangerous and and hopeless.
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What vivid kind of counter stereotype story are you telling that we can intentionally amplify here on the podcast that hopefully will be listened to and inspire other people?
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When I I want to say that most time when you see a child on the street, the first thing that comes to your mind is that is a thief.
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M the first thing that comes to your mind is that is the criminal we are looking for.
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Uh most of the time somebody say those children are caused those children they are not to be associated with because they are dangerous. They can harm you. They can do all manners.
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So we said stigmatization is the cause is the grassroots of homelessness is the root problem of homelessness because in most cases in in actual sense what many factors many reason why children or young child ended up on the street may not be eradicated.
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For example, poverty, death of parent, terrorism, even religion beliefs in Nigeria.
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There are part of Nigeria who believe that at a certain age of your life, within the age of 10 and 18, you should be on the street as a male child.
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So there's a culture with they call it alumi that is they will take their their male child and leave that child with one plate in his hand and now the child to go there and learn Islamic way and stuff.
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So there are many factors that will not make a child that will not that will not make make it possible for anyone to say children will not go on the street anymore.
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But going on the streets may not be the problem.
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But the level in which we stigmatize those who are on the street just making me because I am dirty I have not taken my bath for some days.
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I am scavenging your waist and stuff does not make me the criminal you are looking for.
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So we have taken children from the street who are once nobody and those some of those children are today they are coding they are professionals in IT.
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Some of them are professionals makeup artists.
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Some of them are professional here here making some of them are finished their secondary school and they came out the fly color.
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In fact, two of them came home today with their last time result and it was B A B A grade they got from this class.
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This supposed to be children.
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You say, "Oh, these are C. These are thieves.
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These are the dangerous ones."
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But given them that platform, opportunity, a space where they can define themselves and they can take sole responsibility for their own life, they have been able to prove everyone wrong and to say to those people, I am not the criminal you are looking for. I am human. I am just homeless.
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amazing and uh must be also inspiring to other people to see that transformation.
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Um and uh in in your plan sustainable villages uh your your goal is that you're going to reach food and energy self-sufficiency in in 3 years.
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What contingency plans do you have or what obstacles do you see that would prevent that from happening?
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And then what would your next step be?
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Well, obstacle could be in fact we already facing obstacle because in our at the at the land because no construction going on yet because we are still hoping to have some opportunity coming.
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So we decided to say look this land is open let's cinate it.
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Let plant and then one major obstacle we are facing is we are into agriculture farming crops.
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There are other people who are rearing cows and then instead of you to keep your cow and feed your cow in your home space, they bring their cow to our homeland to grace and personally that as this is a problem we are facing right now.
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So we have took all necessary step to stop them from coming to our land to stop from eating our crops is not eating.
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So what what do we do then?
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We call them we say okay look we know that you want to graze your car and you feel that passing through our land is the way because they are begging they said look we are not eating your crops we just want to pass through your land and go to where we want to go and graze our own cow and if you don't pass your land there's no way our cow can pass.
36:01
Meanwhile when they pass through the land the cow are eating our own crops.
36:05
So we said let's set this thing and make what we do is we will create a path at the back of the land.
36:14
At that part we are going to cover the the cross.
36:18
So you make sure that your cow does not eat the the barage. Leave them away.
36:24
Take them to where you are going. Eat.
36:26
Let them eat and bring them back.
36:29
And that work like a magic.
36:32
So we realize if we allow the community to understand what we are doing and we give them opportunity to form all of us to reason together and come to the conclusion.
36:43
Do you know what the the cow man did the next day?
36:45
He came to us with Mick with tell me Mick I said look I'm giving this to the children today because we were able to solve our problem together and say look p the back you will not be able to destroy our own crops you will go and grace your cow and you will come back and that's it.
37:04
So we see a lot of obstacle coming from community insufficiency in funding and stuff.
37:11
But what we try to do is also that we have a plan.
37:14
The plan is to build this village and to build it by the people who are going to own it. What what do I mean?
37:27
One, we are trying to start a movement through this village.
37:32
There are many people have been displayed because of bwaram issues which is terrorism group in Nigeria.
37:37
They are scatter around Nigeria living on the street.
37:42
So we plan that look the construction of this village be carried out by the by the homeless by the homeless.
37:52
So we are going to use this village as a training platform for sustainable constructions.
38:00
In other words, materials that are echofriendly are going to be used.
38:06
Youngsters, youth that we are going to be rescued will be the one to be trained to be able to use these materials and build this village by themselves.
38:14
And out of that, they will earn skills.
38:17
They will begin to spread sustainable construction across Nigeria because presently Nigeria is building and destroying environment.
38:28
Our farms, our plants, our trees are gone.
38:33
Secondly, we are not just going to be constructive.
38:36
We are also going to be factoring agriculture producing the food that will sustain us at least to 75%.
38:46
And we are not going to be hiring people to come and plant it for us or something.
38:50
Our participants will be trained in agriculture and they will learn agriculture.
38:55
they will feed themselves.
38:58
More than that, Nigeria is also suffering from food shortage.
39:03
They will also contribute to the increase in production of food in Nigeria and have business of their own in agriculture.
39:13
So we are building this system in a way that it is the it is us that are responsible for whatever we want to do.
39:22
We convert it to training because our participant don't have vocational training, don't have any formal educations and this is going to be a platform for them to learn.
39:30
As they learn, they sustain themselves.
39:31
As they learn, they sustain themselves.
39:33
And we are going to be doing it gradually as we are able to move, as we're able to to have the resources to do it.
39:41
And then I can imagine that you could have an alumni flywheel uh where people um who've who've been there, learned how to do it, etc.
39:51
that can then go out and and do it again. Yeah. Thank you.
39:58
And I think that that's brilliant.
40:01
And h how how do you envision let's say your first hundred successful graduates who move on to do it elsewhere?
40:09
How how do you make that a kind of a self-reinforcing network? Okay.
40:15
So, um Jim, we are not we also having a program where we say homeless building the homes, homeless building the nations, homeless constructing the site.
40:27
We have different program and our program is like look guys whatever we do here when you leave this place there are thousands of children, youngsters, youth who need you.
40:38
When you step out of this place, you must also reach out.
40:40
We are not saying you should go for homeless.
40:44
You may not homeless may not be your passion.
40:46
It may be something else.
40:46
But we are very concerned about you living here and be interested in in solving human problems in any capacity you can and transmitting trans transferring that skill to other people.
41:03
One major problem Nigeria is also facing right now is lack of artisans.
41:11
Many Nigerian youth does not want to learn vocations anymore.
41:16
You'll be struggling to find somebody who can do your woodwork, your plumbing, your painting.
41:22
So we said look you have the opportunity and this is going to become an advanced of this movement.
41:28
We call it a movement because it is a platform also we want to use to rewrite the story of homeless people to eradicate stigmatizations.
41:43
We are on a project right now where we say we are planting 5,000 trees and when you plant a tree you name that tree according to what you wish to name it and you will not just plant it you will monitor the tree for one year.
41:59
So somebody say I want to whatever number you want to plant do plant it and when you plant it name it after yourself give it your name let people know you are the one and we are not planting it on our land we are planting it on other people's land and telling them we will plant this tree we
42:20
will monitor it for one year our agreement with you is that when you cut it in the you must plan five in place of the of one and We all agree and then that make it so it's a movement for us and the homeless keep on spreading spreading and this village we are trying to build we be having 200 graduates every year. Amazing. Amazing.
42:45
Um, myobi uh yes, the uh enlightenabilities uh organization is really closely tied to your personal story as it should be.
42:57
I think h how are you trying to build in founder redundancy into the organization so that it outlives you?
43:04
That's a fantastic question. Yeah.
43:07
Firstly, of course, um before I came up with this organization, of course, I told myself that this vision that I have today, you should live longer than me over.
43:23
Of course, I'm the initiator of this idea, but this organization is for the people.
43:28
And the reason why there's a board in place and even whatever we do, everyone else is also involved.
43:34
And of course I think also in my last report that I written to the OSP team I think I to sustain the organization and also for it to live for many many years even when after I'm gone.
43:50
First of course we are thinking of also coming up with a multi-purpose facility center.
43:55
What are we going to be doing that side?
43:57
Firstly you know for me I'm always concerned about education.
44:01
Education is key in everything.
44:06
So definitely of course at that place that we've got of course we had a balance and luckily OSV came on board and now I've got a big piece of land just in very well located and we are saying we should come up with this facility where firstly one they're going to have our own offices so we can stop renting these offices.
44:26
Two, we should be able to be training these mothers of abilities in agriculture and also rearing chickens, goats and whereas we should also make this very center as an early child development center.
44:44
Whereas children that are young, you know, many the performance of children is very bad. Why?
44:48
Because of the background.
44:50
So we are saying we could work with the government.
44:53
could work with the government. That's why each and every program if you even looked at what I did in the last grant I was working with the government why because I want the government to buy into what we are doing and whatever is happening nowadays even
45:08
just even in Osaka the seat or just in the province the government is always engaging us seeking for advice already even partners when they applying for grants they want to bring us on board why because they see the potential in us and that's the only how we're going to sustain And this want to leave beyond. So all these things that put in place
45:27
So all these things that put in place even when the center is built we are going to show that the government is going to have a part a buy in so that the government also has got a share the comm should also buy in they should own this facility should own the program they should know that this is ours.
45:43
Of course the initiator is Mioa but this is ours.
45:50
Mioa, many Western donors like to see kind of tangible things, you know, like ramps and elevators, etc. Yes.
45:56
Uh, how do how do you convince them that your policy lobbying and your curriculum redesigns are are a better and more sustainable way to actually help. Thanks very much.
46:10
I think um one good example that I would give I think is the work that we did with support from reputation international and I'm happy that it was recognized in in January.
46:24
I think it was also posted their website in their newsletter and I also shared with the secretary general New York about you in Abu Dhabi and she she was almost writing you a letter.
46:37
So I mentioned to her that you see firstly you know of course you're talking about to increase your education but how do you sustain how do you make it a reality firstly if you want a child to be able to access these classrooms cuz most of these classrooms they are built way back whereas people never thought about stability it was all about themselves not thinking about inclusivity.
47:00
inclusivity. So of course when you talk about universal ramps this is where you ensure that firstly you have to be inclusive of all these abilities of course when you talk about physical habitations you're talking about ramps whereas you're going
47:17
to ensure that you bring expertise on board you assess the place you do the mapping schools those are not accessible and even when you are designing the ramp you ensure that that ramp is not going to be killer but something that's going to save lives of children. Then you also
47:32
Then you also ensure that know the toilets the bathrooms they are made they designed in a way where see a child with ability or somebody that is visually impaired they can also rotate freely without any challenges so that children are not scared to go to school like the way it was in my case at college that if I go to school which person am I going to use.
47:55
So we ensure that we bring expertise work expertise to come up with welld designed ramps pathways whereas the blind children on wheelchairs they're able to access their classrooms with very minimum challenges because you're not saying that you're going to clear all the problems.
48:12
No challenges always be there but you can always try to minimize them. This is the whole idea. Excellent.
48:18
This is the whole idea. Excellent. So ramps pathways they are very cardinal to ensuring that these children they are able to go to classrooms they're able to fit in classrooms and I don't believe of course we are talking about special
48:32
education yes we need special education because there other disabilities that are multiple whereas a child will not be able to fit but the case of children like in my case all that you need just to create an enable environment and a child will be able to cope up with other
48:48
children by learning with other children it also gives them confidence they grow confidence they'll be able to pray with other children cuz you won't find any community children they just pray for themselves no they should be able to mingle this is why I promote inclusion because it builds confidence this child
49:09
this child never be the same again and also remember inclusion it also increase the lifespan of this child cuz the child was just taking part here and there even just the board know they're excising some ways just even the mental health wise is also very good. It stimulates their minds in
49:24
It stimulates their minds in so many various ways and of course I'm targeting many these schools in rural areas because most of these organizations they all just you know concentrating in urban areas.
49:37
So now think of a child out there you have to take maybe about maybe 4 hours to reach the place.
49:47
Of course you also talk about now the issue of transport.
49:48
How do you access these kind of areas?
49:50
Of course, the angels are saying no, we want to go to that area but you don't have transport which is also hindering us.
49:55
which is also hindering us. So I feel we can do more and even partners where even when they come on the ground here they're also able to appreciate the works they're able to appreciate the citizens of this issue whereas of course there's free education now but how is
50:10
accessing this facility very few of them and this why we are saying can we also target a parent because a parent in in education special education is key cuz they would want of course the child to go to school but maybe they're not managing or if you know people just want to hold the child. So that's why we come
50:27
So that's why we come in as an organization. We talk to them.
50:31
See if I not I didn't go to school.
50:31
I was not going to be here now.
50:34
So I also play as a model to these children.
50:40
You're not saying that you're going to become the founder of but just by you going to school you can still be able to come up with a business even to be able to calculate 1 plus 2 plus 3.
50:48
Even maybe you're selling some sweets.
50:51
You won't be having problems for you to be able to deal with people.
50:54
deal with people. You know even interacting with people we talk about mindset it's a two-way thing we're not talk about no we want people to change their mindset how they perceive disability no but also that mindset should also begin with us abilities is our attitude positive how do we behave ourselves towards people so
51:14
it's like a dual courage way makes tremendous sense to me because it it has the ability to to change for the long term these aren't you're not advocating short-term fixes, you are advocating for long-term changes, which is one of the things that we found very compelling uh when we decided to give you the grant. Uh Israel, switching back to you for a
51:37
Uh Israel, switching back to you for a moment, um you you pick kids personally uh and which I think is great, but that doesn't scale.
51:46
Um what are your plans for um making it more of an institutionalized thing?
51:58
We already talked about the graduates and that network which I think will help tremendously.
52:05
Uh but your backstory is so incredible.
52:09
It's such an emotional engine that drives people.
52:12
It certainly drove us when we when we read your application.
52:17
Like you're an amazing man and you're both amazing men, but like how how are you ever going to how are you kind of the the emotional center of uh the project?
52:29
How what are your plans for finding successors, for finding colleagues, etc.? Okay, thank you so much.
52:39
Um, our program is not about me, it's about us.
52:45
M it time for us to begin to have another faith that they are not going to be me because in this our first part we limited our target to young spouse within the age of 12 and 21 purposely because I understand the wideness of the street.
53:12
If a young guy, a young boy, a youth takes a young child is around 22, 23, 24, 25, it will require a lot of military approach to get them.
53:27
And we don't have policy of lock you up, policy of keeping somewhere.
53:34
No, as a matter of fact, when we bring it from the street, our center does not have a gate.
53:44
Our fence is as low as to your chest.
53:49
And we tell you this, you are not in prison.
53:54
You have the right to go anytime you wish to go. Just do us a favor.
53:58
Tell us you want to go so that we'll be able to sponsor you, give you a transport fair and a token for you to buy a drink and a snacks when you are going.
54:13
That kind of communication make them to stay.
54:17
Most of the time when we rescue 20 maybe three will go back.
54:23
But in approach from other people they will bring them in they will lock the gate and all stop and then the children want to prove to them you cannot keep me here all of them will leave. So what am I saying?
54:34
Um it will take it take time because we have already some successful underprocessed young stars who are already responsible as one of they rotate to be a manager of their center every week.
54:53
When they are forc rescued, I do hire manager to look over them.
54:55
But now there is no manager anymore.
55:01
They rotate their managerial system.
55:01
So I am the manager of this center for this week.
55:06
You will be giving all the allowances.
55:08
You will dictate everything that happen in the home. We manage the home.
55:12
So but we are just waiting for them to cross that line where they can say they can have the necessary skills.
55:23
So what this organization is not about me, it's about us.
55:29
And that is why many of them when they come out this you will begin to see them talking about us sharing their own story saying their own story.
55:41
Either you see me or you not see me.
55:44
All it matters is you have seen us and our story is the same.
55:47
And mostly we are strictly working with children who are homeless.
55:55
So we also identified that um some of them who are already showing interest in this kind of work at least three of them also are interested in working as some of us um one of us who are already employed working with us in our office.
56:12
So it's a time very soon you will begin to see them they become the face of everything we do.
56:18
I love that it's not me it's we.
56:21
That's a great way to approach it.
56:24
Uh because I'm sure that there are stories very similar to your own.
56:29
Uh and the more that people are able to tell them and take ownership within the community, the the more it's going to be sustained.
56:37
Uh an another thing that you do is you provide some technology uh for the kids and mobile phones are great to connect kids to help but they can also be used for maybe not such great purposes.
56:52
H how how do you safeguard against that? Okay.
56:55
So we also conscious of the fact that these youngsters they are they live in the community they live in society they live in a world where technology is everywhere.
57:07
Either we give it to them or we don't give it to them and we have it what they do with it we may not be able to control it.
57:15
They also leave home they went to school they have friends who are holding phones they have friend who has laptops and they are going to be exposed to it.
57:24
So what we do is that okay we are going to make available some of you we have what we have what you call a nuke a nuke is like a place where you can say I want to learn this particularly those who are going to school those who say I want to go back to school we make that nuke for them when you come back from n from school you can say I want to learn how to repair this watch all right There are laptops available. Go on internet. Search for videos. Listen to them. We have tools. Take the tools.
58:03
Look for a spoiled wristwatch. Start practice it. Start fixing it.
58:10
So it's a kind of a corner, a kind of n a where you don't have teachers, there are no teachers, there are no instructors.
58:21
is a peer learning center.
58:21
So if I want to learn how to make cake, I can watch videos on laptops and I can use them to skill myself.
58:31
That is the purpose of our tech of our materials, phone, laptop.
58:36
That is the purpose and the reason why we ask them.
58:38
But we are not also um ignorant of the fact that it can be used.
58:45
They can convert it to something use for something.
58:47
That is where we also work on their values.
58:54
Um we have daily reflections.
58:54
In our daily reflection, what we do is that we let the children come up with the topic that interest them. Anything at all.
59:05
You can talk about gun, you can talk about sex, you can talk about war, you can talk about anything.
59:12
Come up with any topic you feel you want to talk about.
59:13
We will let you guys talk about it.
59:15
We will just sit down and listen to you.
59:17
And that gave us opportunity to know what interest them, what they may be doing that we are not aware of.
59:26
And with that we'll be able to say look this is the our own perspective to this.
59:31
Not necessarily that we are right but look at it from our own angle.
59:36
And that also gives them opportunity to know what is supposed to be used what they can do with their time on system on laptops what they should not do with it. That's is how we handle.
59:51
Um, Israel, what what is the most uncomfortable truth that your closest adviserss keep pressing you on that you haven't solved yet, but that you know you're going to have to confront to reach the next scale of impact.
1:00:04
Jim, please can you come come again with that question or simplify it for me more? Sure.
1:00:14
What what is something that has been uh persistently popping up as a problem for you uh and your adviserss and and that you know that you've got to solve if you want to move up to the next level of impact and and how are you tackling that that problem?
1:00:34
Yeah, I think the major one is thinking you have achieved a success on the child just to find out that the child still love to go back to the street.
1:00:49
It's we have two of them and it really really broke my heart because these are one of the first set of our participant who we have worked with they have been with us they've been so amazing suddenly just said look I'm going back and it worries when what did you do
1:01:11
wrong this has people who said look we have proved that this work and how come they want to go And if we want to have impact is because our own impact is not about how much degree you earn, how much um money you have in your account. Our own
1:01:31
Our own impact is how much you are committed to your life and to see a change. That's our own impact.
1:01:37
How much interest you have shown to show that I want to change my whole life.
1:01:43
Because we believe either with us or without us, you can become whoever you want to be.
1:01:49
And what we want you to have is that interest in yourself that you will become who you want to be either with us or without us.
1:01:59
The moment you get to that point, we are good with him.
1:02:05
So then you see these two guys who say look I want to go back.
1:02:08
I am going to straight and so the question I asked them, why are you going back?
1:02:12
what are you going to be doing?
1:02:14
He said when they feel they have a lot of they've learned a lot and it's time for them to move to move on.
1:02:23
Okay, if you want to move on is a good thing but where are you moving on to?
1:02:27
Because we know you don't have a place to go. You don't have a home. There's no parents.
1:02:31
We cannot even trace your family.
1:02:33
Where are you moving on to?
1:02:35
Said they are going back to where we want to go back and live there. Okay, it's fine.
1:02:39
But what are you going to be doing there?
1:02:41
You just finished your college exam.
1:02:43
You are prepared to go to university.
1:02:45
You you are learning a skill you have not finished but we see an improvement in you.
1:02:50
In in few time you will be ready.
1:02:52
You can get tools and start your own business. It just they want to go.
1:02:58
So it gave me concern that at that point they can still choose to go back.
1:03:04
Then I said to myself, if we are going to continue to have impact, we must cross this or we are not concerned about you going back. It's not a problem.
1:03:15
If you have a plan for yourself and that plan is so genuine enough that we see that it is a show of commitment to your life that is taking you back because when I left the man who kept me in the house, I went back to the street but I didn't go back as as it was before. Right.
1:03:34
I went back working raising money to pay a private teacher for me to go for extra lesson at evening to prepare for an exam and I did that for two years and I went back to university.
1:03:49
Never went to primary school, never went to secondary school.
1:03:51
I did two years and I was able to go to university.
1:03:56
So then I then we decide we decided to begin to redesign our plan.
1:04:03
So what we came up with is every child who come to us after 6 months of crossing the first stage of 6 months you want to give them that chance to choose to continue with us or to choose to find their path the way they want it to be.
1:04:25
So if whatever you choose, what we are going to do is to make sure that some challenges you may face, we help you to understand it and then we give you the necessary support that will be able to keep you on the track and also let you know that this door is open.
1:04:46
anytime you find it difficult out there, you can come back.
1:04:50
And if you choose to stay with us, you show commitment that I'm I'm not yet ready to leave because I still know that I'm not ready to leave now.
1:05:04
You also need to show a commitment not because you are afraid of go back and whatever, but a commitment that I want to change my life.
1:05:13
that is for us is what we have decided to do.
1:05:16
I think that that is also incredibly brilliant because uh people hate being ordered around and told what they must and must not do and finding uh the way you're approaching it makes much more sense to me because it's their commitment, their plan, etc.
1:05:36
which is empowering them and also the idea of choice, right?
1:05:41
I just think that that is a very elegant solution uh to to uh the the problem.
1:05:48
Um Mioa uh let's bring you in again.
1:05:56
Um and it you've you've said that uh uh a disability in a family can be very difficult and fracture marriages and cause uh stigma.
1:06:12
I is there a traditional Zambian cultural practice that if you reframed it could become your ally rather than an obstacle? Yeah, of course.
1:06:25
I think if I get you correctly, I think he talking about the aspect of myth in Africa.
1:06:29
You know, of course, it's all about beliefs.
1:06:32
You know, way back, I think also a good example is myself, you know, the time when I was diagnosed with polio, I remember the elder sister to my my father, he was against me being taken to the hospital.
1:06:51
They said, "No, better we take him to the traditional doctors.
1:06:56
And then when my father refused my aunt was so furious with him and he was now being accused that no maybe I've done something to your son said what can I do to my son I love my son I know you have to take it to traditional what doctors and if you checked me of course I think
1:07:11
I still have those tattoos done by the witch doctors and you know very funny enough after I went to witch doctor I think two weeks I was able to walk like magic it was like a miracle but again after two weeks again it was back the aspect of again going back to west because I was unable to walk. So I think
1:07:28
because I was unable to walk. So I think what I would say I think in regards to your question I think firstly we should first I think target the traditional leaders let each and everyone understand that you know disability is not about these beliefs that no maybe you stole somebody's chicken that's why your child is like this now no and even the aspect of you know hospitals you know others are able to go
1:07:58
for atalto they able to detect oh what I'm carrying here this and this even just the food that people are eating even just how they just carrying themselves when they are pregnant also matters it could also contribute to children being born
1:08:14
disabled so the only way on how we can do that firstly I think we should just amplify in terms of how we are raising our voices on how to talk about stability let people not take it as a burden as a case. No, but embrace it. No, but embrace it.
1:08:34
Once everyone knows that disability can come to anyone, a bit can happen to anyone, then even how people are going to receive it, it will be different.
1:08:44
So it's aspect of norms we should go out there engage especially also healthy workers that please as people come for and those mothers that maybe having a child ability let them be educated.
1:09:00
There are certain that could be corrected when a child is too young all those kind of things just have to put in measures that are simplified where each and everyone appreciate inclusivity and disability.
1:09:14
And uh what what are you working on now that's different than uh what we gave you the grant for? Yeah, thanks very much.
1:09:24
Uh for now we are able to to win of course a small grant.
1:09:31
Uh this one it's on gender based violence against women with disabilities and also mothers of children abilities and people with albinism.
1:09:42
I'm sure you know people with abnism. Yes I do. Yeah. Yeah. Yes.
1:09:48
So now this this project that we are doing now of course we are trying to see how best can you work with the government.
1:09:55
Remember I said earlier on in whatever we do as we engage the government because we're looking at ownership and sustainability.
1:10:04
So now this project that we are doing now of course we're targeting women with abilities mothers of abilities and people with abism you know people with abism in Zambia they're being targeted especially where I am there's a belief that if you want to become rich if you want to become a gym a multi-millionaire
1:10:22
you should be able to kill somebody with albinism then you get the skin or private parts then you take the witch doctor then they do some concoction then become rich so now people within they living in fear cuz they're being killed and others are just even when somebody with dies when they bury them people go there to go and steal the the dead body. M so now we are
1:10:42
steal the the dead body. M so now we are saying how can people be so can be educated that no for you to become rich you don't have to kill somebody or that you need just work hard and apply your skills and then also in terms of gender based
1:11:01
violence against women abilities and also mothers we are working with the Zambia police and also of commment that please can we work closely as victim support so that mothers ability that are being abused these marriages is by the virtue of them having a child ability. These men that abusing them can they be
1:11:18
These men that abusing them can they be sensitized those that they even reaching extent of maybe killing injuring their wives. Let them face the law.
1:11:26
We have got laws in Zambia that could deter such kind of things.
1:11:30
So this is what we are working on now.
1:11:32
working on now. Of course there's no grant for about $10,000 but at least to make a difference because I feel when people are educated when people have got the knowledge when people come to know even how they're going to behave even their mindset is going to change
1:11:46
remember advocates is not a one day thing it's not an event it's a process so we have to keep on preaching to people that what you are doing is not the right thing we can live as human beings by loving one another by also embracing these women with disabilities that also human beings. They're not
1:12:03
They're not supposed to be abused, stigmatized.
1:12:05
No, but embraced and brought together and let them also be part and parcel in society.
1:12:13
Let the most take part in whatever has happened in society in our communities.
1:12:19
So that's what we are doing now. Amazing.
1:12:21
And of course what we also doing because you know we always believe in building what you have started.
1:12:25
So also those mothers of diabetes that benefited from our program under OSV those are the one that we are targeting cuz you also found some gaps cuz we found I think about the time when I implementing the OSV grant I found about 12 divorce cases no my husband had divorced me of this child.
1:12:48
Yeah and uh it's sometimes you must feel like it's kind of a neverending uh uh struggle.
1:12:55
Um, and that's why we have such great admiration for you.
1:12:57
Uh, Israel, um, I if if you could insert a single clause into federal legislation tomorrow, what practical wording would most rapidly reduce the pipelines of kids entering the street? Alternative space. Alternative space.
1:13:23
uh in 2022 I was I went to India for a training at u an institution that train social change maker and that's in this that state is called Kella so Kerala has one of the biggest number of homeless children before but when I went there I wanted to see if if that is a story so I went to the street and I could not find any child on their spot I find some adults, old people who are sleeping there but no kid.
1:14:00
So I went to the social social work department of that state.
1:14:03
I met with the director and I asked how did you do it that no child is on the street?
1:14:09
Could it mean you have stopped divorce?
1:14:11
Did you stop death of parent?
1:14:13
Did you stop poverty in your countries?
1:14:15
Does it mean that child are no longer abused in their homes?
1:14:19
What could have been the reason?
1:14:21
And he said all these things are still there but we make sure we create an alternative space for every child.
1:14:31
So if the home is not beable for a child, the child should not end up on the street instead there should be a place where the child must end up.
1:14:44
And so the typical example of what we are building right now is the alternative space for every child.
1:14:56
If instead of a child to end up on the streets, we have a space where that child can end up on for a short period, it could be a long period short period depending on the situations.
1:15:07
And if I have opportunity to speak and to make a change in our legislation in my country right now, I'll make it a law mandatory that every child have access to an aology space instead of ending up on the street.
1:15:26
Well, gentlemen, you are both so incredibly inspirational.
1:15:29
Um, I am in awe of both of you.
1:15:33
What you have accomplished and what you continue to accomplish really um is is not only inspirational, it's it's just such a great example of what two uh people in both of your cases can accomplish and the changes that you can bring about um through your own efforts. I applaud both of you.
1:16:01
I think that um you uh your work is incredibly important and it's also getting real results which at the end of the day, right, that's what you want to look at.
1:16:15
Are you getting real results or are you not getting real results?
1:16:18
And and so uh we are delighted uh to have you both as grantees.
1:16:24
Um, we think you're wonderful examples of what can be done.
1:16:30
So many people just throw their hands up and well, we can't solve this. This is unsolvable.
1:16:37
It's just uh I guess we just have to learn to live with it.
1:16:40
And I love love love that you've both proven that is wrong, that is not true in very different uh things that you're doing, but you're you're both doing them with the idea that you can inspire personal agency.
1:16:58
You can allow other uh forms of education to be very inclusive.
1:17:04
you can have that space for children who might not be safe at home, that don't need to live on the streets.
1:17:14
So, I applaud both of you.
1:17:16
Uh I just honestly am in awe of what you both have accomplished.
1:17:20
Uh on the podcast, we always have a final question. Um which is kind of fun.
1:17:26
Uh we we we're going to make you both in turn emperor of the world for just a day.
1:17:32
um you you can't kill anyone and you can't uh put anyone in a re-education camp.
1:17:40
But what you can do is we're going to hand you a magical microphone and you can say two things into it and the next morning whenever the next morning is for the 8 billion plus people on the planet, they're all going to wake up and think, "Wow, I've just had two great ideas and you know, I've never acted on them in the past, but I'm going to act on both of these ideas today."
1:18:05
Israel, what are you going to incept into the world's population?
1:18:13
When I want to tell the world that when you see any child, remember you see a future that is bright and you can treat that future to be fulfilled or to kill that future with your word and your character. Fabulous. So you get another one.
1:18:35
The second one I want to say if you think you want to make an impact in this world, please look for a child on the street and give them an inclusive environment to grow. Amazing. Mioa, how about you? Thank you very much.
1:19:02
Of course, for me, education always comes first.
1:19:06
I'm here because of education.
1:19:09
So what I want to tell the world out there is that you know inclusive education is not a charity is a human right.
1:19:19
And this reminds me that education is essential for creating a just and equitable society.
1:19:30
Each and every child has got potential in him or her.
1:19:36
Let's walk together and build the bright future in these children and make the world better for everyone.
1:19:46
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
1:19:46
Both of those are wonderful ways to incept and I congratulate you. you both.
1:19:52
Um, for our listeners and viewers, uh, Mioa, why don't you start and then we'll have Israel do it.
1:20:00
How how do people get involved? Thanks very much.
1:20:04
I think firstly, you showed Eugim, you walked with us, you walking this with us on this journey.
1:20:11
So each and everyone is free to work with us in different ways.
1:20:19
Be it technical support, we appreciate that.
1:20:22
Network in various ways, we appreciate that.
1:20:25
For us, whatever you bring on board, it matters.
1:20:31
And to bring a to bring change in the lives of Trunabetes and their families.
1:20:36
You know, Tuna have been neglected for so so many years or many decades and they look up to us to make a difference in their lives.
1:20:44
Please join us to make a difference in this child. Lovely Israel. Thank you, Jim.
1:20:51
Uh, one thing important for us right now is that we are in need of bricks.
1:21:03
We are in need of bricks.
1:21:03
If you give us $10, you have given us 30 bricks.
1:21:12
With 30 bricks from you, we can begin to put these houses on ground and have many young homeless children having a space where they can grow, they can develop and they can explore themselves.
1:21:27
So we are calling on people who are watching right now.
1:21:31
If you say take $10, that is 30 bricks you have given us.
1:21:38
That means with 30 breaks coming from different people, 200 youngsters will leave the street and they will have training within one year.
1:21:48
That is what we are majorly in need of right now. Thank you. Amazing.
1:21:54
Both of you are so inspiring to me and uh what you're doing is changing many many lives for the better.
1:22:03
Um, and it's our mission here at Oshanasy Ventures to amplify people like you, support people like you, because there are so many and sometimes people just need the example, they don't even think about it.
1:22:23
And then when they see the inspirational example of both of you, uh, they're like, you know what, I can do that.
1:22:29
$10 for bricks, inclusive uh schools, education for everyone.
1:22:33
I I applaud, sincerely applaud what you are both doing and thank you so much for it and for spending time with me today on the podcast. Thank you so much.
1:22:49
Thank you so very much and please keep up with the good work.
1:22:54
You have made a huge difference in the lives of many people not only in Zambia but world worldwide and we wish you long life. God's blessings.
1:23:01
We wish you very very very very well well good health to you and your family and all the OSB team. Thank you so very much. Well, thank you. I wish you the same.
1:23:14
And Jim Jim, I I wish to say this.
1:23:14
Um when we were considered for this uh um fellowship, we were there in need of a space of a land where we can build where we can start our project where we can tell the world this is what we want to do and we are able to do this. Nobody trusted us. Nobody believed in us.
1:23:37
But when we tell you that this is what we want to do, you trusted us.
1:23:40
The organization trusted us and gave us that opportunity. Now we have the land.
1:23:45
We have the architectural design.
1:23:47
We have all the government approved.
1:23:50
It is now easy for us to tell people.
1:23:53
This is what we have been able to do.
1:23:55
You have help us to have that seed needed to kickstart and to move on.
1:24:02
So for that we cannot write the history of this inclusive space without talking about OSV. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.
1:24:12
Well, again, I I thank you very much and that's very kind of you, but it's all you.
1:24:16
Uh we we we are just empowering both of you and your amazing amazing work.
1:24:24
So, thank you for coming on and telling your stories and uh best of best of luck with all of your endeavors. Thank you. Thanks very much. Thank you. Bye. Bye.