We embarked on a bold initiative to share the untold stories of marginalized youths dwelling in the slums—children whose humanity is often overlooked. Tragically, they find themselves thrust into the workforce very early in life, assuming roles as domestic servants, street vendors, shoe shiners, apprentice mechanics, carpenters, vulcanizers, tailors, barbers, and hairstylists, all while being exposed to unsafe environments that threaten their lives and future.
With the funding support of the United States Department of State and the Freedom Fund, Street Project Foundation got on the ARTvocacy train to the suburbs of Oworonshoki, Lagos, but this time with a specific focus on Child Domestic Workers. The project aims to protect this vulnerable group of children from harm.
25 creative youths were selected in Oworonshoki, each using their unique creative expressions to shed light on the struggles of child domestic workers in their communities. Through a poignant theatrical performance titled Omo Odo (A term in Yoruba language that means, Child Worker or House Help) and a compelling documentary born out of a three-week non-residential Bootcamp, these young individuals have captured the attention of Oworo community, raising awareness about this issue.
Following the completion of the boot camp, these young creatives have joined a vibrant community of over two thousand creatives dedicated to social change. The activation of ARTvocates in Oworonshoki was made possible due to Street Project Foundation’s collaboration with Ennovate Dance, an organization founded by a 2016 Street Project Foundation Ambassador, Sunday Obiajulu Ozegbe a.k.a Valu, a testament to the effectiveness of the Foundation’s model of deepening our reach in the grassroots.
Next Location? Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria. Stay tuned for more updates.