THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008
Reaching Out To Oke-Odan's Children
By DENISE FLEISCHER
Lifestyle Editor
Sam Orebiyi sits in the foyer of the Journal with a white notebook and a thick pile of photographs. He has a humble heart of gold, but don't tell him that. The story he shares focuses on the 6,000-8,000 people in his hometown.
The licensed nurse from Ballard Healthcare Residence in Des Plaines is driven to tell about the children overseas in Oke-Odan, located in Nigeria, Africa. How their school collapsed because of frequent rain. How it has no desks, finished floor, windows or even a bathroom for the children. How a sports jersey for a team can make families stand up and cheer.
Orebiyi may have left his home in Oke-Odan, but he continues to think about improving his people's education. Through the "Ballard Cares," fundraiser, progress is being made.
It began with a visit home.
Having come to the United States as a visitor in 1987, he advanced his career by attending nursing school at Dawson Technical in Chicago. He graduated and later met his wife, Denise Wanda, while doing clinical work for nursing school. They were married in 1990 and now have two children. In 1994, Orebiyi came to Ballard to work as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). It was in 1998 that he visited his hometown and stopped at the grammar school.
"It was stable, but the conditions were bad," explained Orebiyi. From his photographs he pointed out a school which collapsed and another school's current condition. "The cement slab floor was cracked. No maintenance was being done (to prevent further deterioration). The children were sleeping on the dirty floor. My main concern, at the time, was to make them comfortable in the classroom."
His concern grew when he spoke to three of his close friends from his hometown, now living in the United States. He also spoke with co-workers at Ballard about dealing with the school's desk situation first.
"I collected donations from friends and staff and made 100 sets of benches and tables that first year, in 2000," he stated. "We paid a carpenter to build them in the community. It took about two weeks. Then we repaved the floors, using cement to level them, and repaired the wood shutters."
In 2000, a storm destroyed three big school buildings in his hometown. One building was constructed from government supplies.
Orebiyi then began talking to everyone at Ballard and created another fundraiser in 2005.
"We created a scholarship fund for all the kids," he recalled. "This was the first time for this in my hometown. There were two categories: Best Academic Students and Best Behaved. Over a thousand dollars was given."
The scholarship is for one school year and is overseen by a committee. The committee purchases books, uniforms and school fees. In 2005, 18 children benefited from scholarships. In 2006, 31 children.
For the 2007 fundraising project, Orebiyi approached Ballard's owners. He discussed his project and learned that they were aware of it.
"They really embraced the idea of what I'd been doing. They told me how they were helping schools in Israel, too. From there I discussed how I was going to do it. I wanted four computers for the kids. The kids heard about computers, but never saw one. They gave me the computers to take to them," Orebiyi stated.
Afterward, Cascade Natural Gas Corp in Seattle, where his friend works, donated 60 computers. Some of them were sold to pay for the shipping of the others. In 2006, the staff and management of Ballard Healthcare raised $5,282.00 for the 2007 project.
"The community computer center was opened at Oke-Odan on June 21, 2007," said Orebiyi. "The project helped to educate and introduce the students and adults from the community, and surrounding villages, into the world of computer technology. A computer teacher has been teaching them the basics."
They raised $11,574.17 for the 2008 Sports project in 2007. Ballard donated $1,000 and t-shirts. A donation from London brought in $800 and Orebiyi's hometown friends made donations.
The Sports program, launched on May 8, provided 10 ping pong tables from the United States, constructed a basketball court (which was named Ballard Basketball Court), bought 15 soccer balls, jerseys and boots for the after school soccer teams from area schools, donated 56 school bags, 4,500 pens and pencils, 6 basketballs and 6 volleyballs.
Donations have been made by various businesses.
Orebiyi is currently raising money for bathrooms to be installed in the school. On Nov. 21, at the center, there will be a special event. Dr. Matthew Jimenez of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute and Dr. Olufunmilayo Olopade of the University of Chicago Hospital will be guest speakers. Mariana Berner's inspirational poetry will be exhibited. Past projects will be displayed and donations accepted.