In the heart of Ajegunle, a sprawling slum in Lagos, Nigeria, Mujanatu Musa and her three children live in a one-roomed apartment made of rusty iron sheets. Since her husband left over three years ago, Musa has been supporting her family with meager earnings from hairdressing, often resorting to borrowing money from neighbors in dry spells. The family falls within the 63 percent of Nigeria’s population living in multidimensional poverty.
Despite their challenges, the children attend Morit International School, where tuition can be paid with used plastic bottles, a brilliant initiative introduced by the school’s founder, Patrick Mbamarah. The school initially faced closure due to unpaid fees, so Mbamarah came up with the innovative payment method to help underprivileged parents afford their children’s education while also promoting environmental sustainability.
While the “plastic-for-tuition” scheme has been successful in providing education to disadvantaged children, logistical challenges have arisen, putting the school’s future in jeopardy. The storage and recycling of plastic bottles have become costly burdens that the school struggles to manage. Despite promises of support from non-profits and government officials, the school’s financial woes persist, threatening its ability to continue operating.
As the school faces uncertain times, parents like Musa worry about where their children will go if Morit International closes. With over 10.5 million out-of-school children aged 5-14 in Nigeria, the impact of the school’s potential closure on the community would be devastating. Support from individuals and corporate bodies is crucial to keep the school afloat and ensure that children like Musa’s continue to receive an education.In the meantime, solutions like finding more recyclers and seeking sustainable funding avenues are essential to address the school’s financial challenges and ensure the continuity of its valuable services.
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