Thread by @Tunde_OD

Happy birthday to the little girl whose smile changed my entire world.
It all started about two years ago when i walked into the slums of majidun ikorodu lagos with a chess board and a pocket full of dreams.

A Thread...

I wanted to introduce chess to vulnerable children living in slum communities as a way to promote learning and enhance intellectual development. It was my own way of giving them a new kinda leverage as most of them couldn't afford to go to school.

It was on this day i met Basirat- a five year old girl who kept tugging at my trousers to give her a chess piece to hold on to.
We introduced the kids to the game of kings and queens and took memorable pictures.

I felt fulfilled when i got home on that day. As i wasn't sure how to teach children who could neither read nor write that a rook could move vertically and horizontally.
Surprisingly they were able to master the basics in one day.

It was supposed to be a one off thing as i didn't have the resources to sustain the training( i was just a hustling boy Lol). But i couldn't get my mind off the particular picture of this girl holding on to a queen with the most beautiful smile in the world.

I wanted to know more about her so i went back to the community to look for her.
When i found her,i lifted her into my arms and asked her what she wanted to be.
She said "Nurse" with a deep yoruba accent. She could barely speak an english word but she was sure of that one thing.

Such lofty ambitions for a little girl who had never seen the four walls of a classrom i thought to myself.
Amidst such vast and faded flowers,she dared to dream.
I watched her for a little while,she housed the greatest spirit i had ever seen and was always filled with laughter.

I was greatly inspired so i went home and wrote about my experience with the little girl i had just found who dared to dream.
The story went viral and trended on @nasdailyvideos.
Someone reached out and offered to sponsor her through school.

It was the best news ever!
We made out to share the good news with her parents and realized they were living in abject poverty.
The mother couldn't hold back tears.
I had teary eyes too.
Pictures below were taken on that day and yes that is where they live.

We enrolled Basirat in one of the best montessori schools in ikorodu.
She had to start from the foundational class so she could learn to read and write.
It was the beginning of her journey.
Afterall in chess,a pawn could march on to become a queen.

The Chess in slums initiative was birthed. I made a resolve to pursue this dream of using Chess as a tool to help other children find life changing opportunities.
The @BBCAfrica made short documentary about her story.
bbc.com/news/av/world-…

Two years down the line and she has grown so much it's almost unbelievable.
Aces her exams consistently!
And she's very well on her way to realizing that dream of being or Nurse/Doctor or whatever the future holds for her.

I am indeed blessed to be a part of her journey,and i'm forever committed to holding her hands through the hurdles.
And when the day comes that she finally gets heruniversity degree,i will be there to cheer her on.
One day she would be in a position to save other lives like hers.

Happy birthday little one
I know it's not all roses yet but i hope and pray that the world doesn't change your smile but that you let your smile change the world instead.
Keep living
Keep learning
Keep growing.
I love you

She's always good vibes too! Lol😅😅

Wow! The reactions are overwhelming😊.
Thanks a lot and Amen to all the beautiful prayers🙏🏾.
I could never take all the credit for this as i have an equally amazing team of young people who volunteer for this project.
Kindly follow our official twitter handle
@chessinslums

@OgbeniDipo Here sir🙏🏾❤

I don't even have words anymore😅
We have been doing this consistently for about two years
Successfully trained over a 100 kids
Some have gone on to win chess tournaments.
We currently have 13 other children on livelong scholarships.
I'm so glad more people are seeing this now😊

For everyone asking how they can donate to our initiative,here's direct link
paylink.ng/chessinslums

Thank you and God bless your heart..