With a network of around 775 Fellows from 96 countries specializing in a diverse array of professional fields, many Atlas Corps Alumni and current Fellows are making inspiring impacts against COVID-19. It is time to celebrate these achievements of our amazing network and share their advice on how we can all do our part to protect and support each other.
Today we want to talk with our current Fellow Abolaji (Class 34, Nigeria, Host: Making Cents International) who is engaging and developing young leaders at YouthLead to conduct social issue campaigns including the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Abolaji is helping communities and families impacted by the pandemic in his home country and other African countries.
Thank you Abolaji for everything that you do to raising awareness and supporting people and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish you all the best with this impactful work!
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Name: Abolaji Omitogun
Home Country: Nigeria Host Organization: Making Cents International Role at Host Organization: Knowledge Management & Youth Engagement Fellow |
Please share with us how you are working to fight against COVID-19 at your Host Organization and beyond?
I have been engaged in several efforts that seek to alleviate the impact of the pandemic on a local and global level.
Education & Amplification. My role as a Knowledge Management & Youth Engagement Fellow at YouthLead has seen me working with 20 young leaders (YouthLead Ambassadors) on various fronts including leading, organizing, and shaping knowledge, sharing sessions and conversations on various social issues and COVID-19 in what is called the YouthLead Social Issue Campaign. These young leaders through the USAID, Youth-Lead platform are conducting social issue campaigns to share and amplify their voices through webinars, twitter chats, and group discussion; about a social issue that they are passionate about and the impact of the pandemic on these issues. I am providing guidance and supporting them with the right resource needed for them to be able to share their knowledge, insights, and experience with other youths globally.
Awareness. As part of my local effort to help communities and families impacted by the pandemic in my home country, I am working to support youth-led sensitization efforts providing aids to affected populations who might not have access to digital platforms & information encoded in English. One of such organizations is Atelewo, a cultural language Initiative sensitizing local communities in Ibadan, Nigeria about COVID-19 in the native Yoruba language spoken by an estimated 40+million people; combining engaging visuals and effective communication, educating many Yoruba locals who are not English literate or do not have enough education or digital access to benefit from the various online awareness in English.
Community Support. In a way to support Africa’s effort in combating the pandemic, I was privileged to lead a team of 45 young people in a 3 days AFRICAvsVIRUS ideathon; in crafting idea/solutions for tackling the issue of Transparency and Accountability that many African countries especially the government, institutions and many private organizations have sprung to action with millions of dollars’ worth of donations, palliative, and stimulus as relief aid to safeguard public health, save lives, support & temper the impact of the pandemic on livelihoods and economies. Besides, I am also leaning support to youth-led organizations like Relifa a youth-led relief effort that utilizes the data and GIS to track and achieve transparent, accountable & safe distribution of relief materials to affected populations in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Do you have anything you would like to say to everybody about how we can all do our part in this pandemic?
The world and its people are in a fragile state and now is the time for solidarity & kindness to the world and the communities around us. While the world share in the pains & suffering of friends, families, and the “have-nots” in our communities, it is important for us to realize that there is so much, yet so little that we can do as humans.
To embrace and encourage the act of kindness and solidarity, my team at YouthLead launched the “Youth-led Acts of Good” campaign which is aimed at challenging young people globally to take the bold pledge of kindness. The “Youth-led Act of Good” pledge is a shot at self-reflection and reawakening of our humanness. It is an opportunity for us to practice EMPATHY and be grateful for our privileges. To educate, create, volunteer, and support positive actions that alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic (COVID-19) on the immediate lives of people and communities around you and the world at large.
Support Atlas Corps Fellows during COVID-19
Help us to support Atlas Corps Fellows who cannot return home because of the COVID-19 lockdown. These Fellows face unique, unbudgeted, and completely unexpected expenses. Donations of ANY size make a big difference!
Donate at bit.ly/Fellowsupportfund
