Amanze Chinonye
Project Sandals4Schools, a grassroots education initiative founded by former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members Chike Donald Ibewuike and Kelechi Ndieze, has completed its second and largest outreach, distributing fitted sandals to 426 pupils and exercise books to about 700 students across nine public primary schools in five Bayelsa communities, Prime Business Africa reports.
The latest outreach, executed in partnership with the Enibo Albert Foundation, marks a major expansion from the project’s June 2024 pilot phase, which reached 250 pupils in Yenagoa with sandals and exercise books. This phase also introduced a new element library support with roughly 300 books donated to seed three school libraries.
Project Lead, Ibewuike, said the initiative is designed to eliminate small but consequential barriers that keep children away from the classroom.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“The difference between staying home and raising a hand in class can be as simple as footwear that fits and books to read and learn with. With Project Sandals4Schools, we’re removing tiny barriers that make a huge difference so children can arrive, belong, and thrive,” he said.
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The project originated from a Community Development Service effort during the founders’ 2022 NYSC year in Bayelsa. An independent study they conducted revealed that three in five children in Yenagoa attended school without footwear. What began as a modest goal to support 1,000 disadvantaged students with sandals and books has since evolved into a sustained volunteer-driven education support platform.
During the inaugural outreach in 2024, the team distributed over 200 sandals and 600 exercise books across St Matthias Primary School, Amarata; Community Primary School, Onopa; and St Luke Primary School, Agudama-Epie all in Yenagoa. The effort drew strong community endorsement, including from HRH Tamamo Marris, Paramount Ruler of Onopa Community, who encouraged pupils to aspire to contribute meaningfully to society.
This year’s expansion into rural communities was enabled by the Enibo Albert Foundation, which coordinated local engagement and last-mile logistics. Co-founder Ndieze said the partnership ensured that the most vulnerable pupils were reached.
“The partnership allowed us to identify the most in-need pupils through head teachers and to navigate the logistical complexities of rural access. It’s about building sustainable systems that ensure resources reach those who need them most,” he explained.
To enhance accountability, participating head teachers documented distributions, confirmed item receipts, and recorded beneficiary numbers creating a transparent and verifiable process.
The introduction of library support signals a shift toward long-term educational investment. The donated mixed-age readers are expected to be rotated across classes to encourage reading culture in schools where access to books is extremely limited.
Preparations are already underway for a third outreach phase, which aims to reach more communities and establish structured reading corners. However, the organisers note that scaling the initiative will require sustained donor support. The project operates entirely on public contributions ranging from sandals and school bags to exercise books and financial donations for procurement and transportation.
Project Sandals4Schools, continues to grow as a model for community-led educational support in underserved regions of Bayelsa State.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
