Lois Afua Okyerewaa Damptey a passionate STEM advocate and also a doctoral researcher in the Department of Engineering and Innovation at the Open University,...

Summary of the Event

The event kicked off at 7am GMT with a morning yoga video performed by Adriene.The Virtual Symposium hosted over 25 renowned sustainability leaders, environmentalists, researchers, specialists on health, botanic conservation, resource management sustainable agriculture and building from around the world. Speaker such as Jeffrey Sachs, Adenike Akinsemolu, Marc Rosen, amongst others share their insights on our path towards sustainable development.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Lois Afua O. Damptey is a passionate STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) advocate and doctoral researcher of Engineering & Innovation at Open University, UK. — **Lois Afua O. Damptey** is a passionate STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics) advocate and doctoral researcher of Engineering & Innovation at Open University, UK.

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ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Chibuike Jigo is a Communication Strategist Intern at The Green Institute. He holds a B.Sc. in Zoology and Environmental Biology from University of Nigeria Nsukka. — **Chibuike Jigo** is a Communication Strategist Intern at The Green Institute. He holds a B.Sc. in Zoology and Environmental Biology from University of Nigeria Nsukka.

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Q & A (SELECTED)

Chibuike Jigo: What role should the government of developing countries play to effectively assist indigenous students in order to be able to secure scholarship?

Lois Afua Okyerewaa Damptey: One of the key role is being able to set out a very well developed plan or strategy in a terms that should be partnering with developed countries of which the SDGs have set out clearly an SDGs for quality education. Creating this environment enables empowerment of our local people or indigenes to be able to study in developed countries.

Another is that they need to create an enabling environment for them to come back to impact the knowledge they have studied out there. All these can be done by creating centre of Excellencies just like what the Green Institute is doing.

Christopher Oghenekevwe: How do we manage information overload when applying for scholarship?

Lois Afua Okyerewa Damptey: One of those things that really worked for me was creating a Microsoft excel, writing the scholarships based on the earliest deadline and the document that is required of me, opening them portal by portal and then putting them down. So scan every documents that is needed like the essays and the things you need to upload and start your application now. Always start it because there are some that the requirements come up portal by portals. Also write along the line where you are and is required of you, keep an inventory specifically for your scholarship portals so that you don’t miss the deadlines.

Quotes

“one of the things you should know when applying for scholarships is that you should never give up”

— Lois Afua Okyerewa Damptey

If you had one minute to sell yourself to a potential investor, how would you introduce yourself?

My name is Isaac Success Omoyele, I make the dreams of people living in the slum to become a reality through an initiative I founded “dreams from the slum empowerment initiative”

DREAMS FROM THE SLUM, how did you come about that name?

I grew up in the slum and my dreams and aspiration almost crashed when I dropped out of school while growing up; hence I was inspired to make dreams of people living in the slum to become a reality, making the world know that people who live in the slum have got valid dreams.

How long have you been running this programme and what inspired you to start?

Dreams From The Slum (DFTS) was established in 2013 based on three convictions.

To ensure that regardless of social status ; every child has access to quality education.
That whoever ‘CHASES’ his/her dream, no matter how or where you are born, either in the slum, rural community or a remote and desolate area; you will definitely become it.
Your background doesn’t have the right to make your back be on the ground. “You may be born in the slum, but the slum is not born in you”.

Since its inception, DFTS has pioneered innovative strategies to achieve this through the following approach:

Education
Empowerment
Mentoring.

Through our approach on Education, we provide children with the opportunity to borrow books and read in our library facility and we have adopted over 1000 out of school children back into school in Nigeria by providing scholarship opportunities and access to basic school materials such as notebooks, bags, shoes etc.

Also, to enhance the quality of education in the slum , our teachers readiness program trains educators in low cost primary schools in rural communities, and we are extremely excited about the effect this is having on learners through their academic performance.

Through our approach via Empowerment, we provide teenage pregnant girls with livelihood skills so that they can be self reliant and live purpose driven lives; knowing that they have the potential to contribute meaningfully in our society, not minding their dreams and aspirations been delayed due to their misinformed choices. However, we make them realize they have a second chance to rewrite the outcome of their life through our ‘Young mothers Academy’

Other women are not left behind especially the parents of the beneficiaries as we get them engaged through livelihood skills so they can be self employed and meet the basic needs of their children.

Through our Mentoring approach, we provide career guidance to children and teenagers by helping them discover their unique abilities and passion, revolutionize the way they learn and get them exposed.

They are also exposed to self discovery and leadership training programmes as we are committed in developing their self esteem.

What are some of your achievements so far?

We have reduce the high number of “out of school” children living in the slum area of Ajegunle by adopting then back to school. We have held the government accountable on educational policy by reporting corrupt head teachers which reduced the high extortion rate in government schools in Lagos State. We have empowered women with no income to be self employed so they will better cater for the needs of their children and we also set up a library in the slum to enable children have access to books because we believe that “Readers are Leaders”.

What are the major challenges and how have you been able to pull through?

The major challenge we have faced and still facing is funding.

We leverage on individual donors to access funding for our projects.

How do you get people to support you especially non-family members?

We sell the vision, share our story and how we are changing lives.

What other areas do you think you need support?

We want to acquire a property where we can have our centre for children which will include a standard school for them but we need support to make this dream come to reality.

If you have the opportunity to change anything about the Nigerian Education System what would it be?

To ensure children go to school without monetary restrictions.

What is it about you that people do not know?

I have loads of children and I am not married, I call them my adopted kids.

What's your advice to young people aspiring to contribute positively to their community?

When you find your place, everything will fall in place for you and you will become the master of that place – FIND YOUR PLACE

How can people reach you and learn more about your work?

www.dreamsfromtheslum.org

info@dreamsfromtheslum.org

08064222169 , 08179586733

Lois Afua Okyerewaa Damptey on World Environment Day, 2020: Furthering your Education through Scholarship