The MPK Foundation Reaching Out Through It's Programs To Foster Education!

Established in 2015, in memory of Mba Patricia Kanayo (late), a retired teacher, and my mother, the MPK Foundation is a Humanitarian Organization, set up to provide Social and Educational supports.

The Foundation grants full Elementary School Scholarships to underprivileged children, thereafter supports them with necessary skills acquisition or vocational training.

We equally grant high school scholarships to exceptionally intelligent children.

In addition, through free weekly sessions, we engage community children aged between 2-15 years on: Reading, Speaking, Writing and Listening skills, to better develop their English Language proficiency. 

Each lesson objective is achieved though the employment of- games, puzzles, matching activities, coloring, poetry, story telling, learning songs and their meanings in different languages and pronunciations.

Overall, Lesson deliveries are guided by well mapped out plans, and thought-out: Engage, Study and Activate stages. These, have facilitated better freer-practice of target language by the learners.

Our learning session:

In an interview with the Program coordinator, Obianuju Mbanusi, she disclosed that the foundation was established in 2015, in honor of her mother: Mba Patricia Kanayo (Nee Ononye), who was a retired teacher, from Asaba- Delta State - Nigeria.

On why the reading club was included in the scheme:  Obianuju said: The English Language is undisputed-ly a predominant language across the globe, for business, academics or leisure purpose. It is also the basis of all other subjects, since they are taught in English. Nevertheless, there is a huge gap in it's proficiency, which in turn has affected it's correct application despite being the lingua franca in most countries. This is evident in the challenges encountered in the effective flow of communication at all levels, and low scores in national, regional and major International English Language tests like - the Ielts, SAT, Toefl etc.

This situation has daunted the progress of most young people living in third world countries, especially the underprivileged whose parents cannot readily afford to send to schools that offer quality education. In the Nigerian context for example, good formal education is like a prerogative for the rich. If one's parent is not financially buoyant, the chances of getting a good education is slim.  Hence, you are left at the mercy of what the public schools can offer, which in most cases is a far cry compared to what could be obtained in some private schools or internationally. For this, the MPK Foundation introduced its Reading Club where, using acquired skills from my training in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), I teach children in my community the English language free of charge. This is what makes us different. I believe every child, irrespective of their parents or guardian's financial strength, has a right to quality education.

On what inspired setting up the Reading Club: Obianuju answered: My motivation came from my mother. Although, the reading club was established in 2019, two years after she passed, the whole idea started in 2015, when she was still around, with our first beneficiary. You see, notwithstanding the fact that we didn't grow up with lots of money, my mother ensured we had the best education she could afford, by supporting our formal education with home-coaching. Being a teacher, it was kind of easy for her. Also, she got us enrolled at the community library. We (I and my brother) would borrow books on different genre, read and return them after two weeks. Over-time, this helped develop my imagination, my love for reading, and learning about new things.


Why the Reading Club was introduced 4 years after the Foundation:  I decided to introduce the reading club in 2019, which was after my TESOL training in London, United Kingdom. By then, I felt empowered to do so. Although my training was focused on teaching adults, I have been able to design lessons for young learners. This is achievable through profiling. Observing, taking note of each learner's progress and challenge(s) and planing subsequent lessons to meet identified needs. 


Do you teach only the English language? Not at all, English language is our focus, but we also teach Geography, where we learn about places and people. We learn basic Mathematics, Ethics, about Plants and Animals, and about our Social environment. We learn Arts and Crafts as well. At the moment, we have few books in our little library for children to occupy themselves with. More so, periodically, we give out books as gifts to encourage reading. In all, the aim is to create a different learning environment from what they have at school, otherwise, the children will be bored. 

Do you teach all the children alone: I teach alone, sometimes I have friends volunteer to help out. Like a friend, Oiza, volunteers to teach the younger learners when she is free. She has been a lifesaver I must say. 

Challenges faced: Due to fund limitations, we are only able to enroll few children on our scholarship scheme. Also, a lot still needs to be done, in terms of getting a suitable place for the Reading Club and acquiring more learning materials. But we are making do with what we have and taking things as they come. I will also like to state here that the MPK Foundation is not limited to educational services. We are all about humanitarian responsibilities; we provide care supports to the less privileged and vulnerable.

 

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obianuju-mbanusi-05bb6935/