A cloth bank is a system or organization that collects, sorts, and redistributes gently used or new
clothing to individuals and communities in need. It is also a response to a deeper, more pressing global
challenge: the environmental impact of clothing production and waste. While clothing banks have long
served as a way to support underprivileged communities, they now play an even more critical role in
addressing sustainability goals, particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production which
aims to promote sustainable use of resources and reduce waste.

Our journey began with a clear vision: to provide Eid al-fitr clothes to underprivileged families,
ensuring they could celebrate the festival with dignity and joy. We initiated this outreach by designing
and distributing flyers across hostels at the University of Ilorin. These flyers were not just
announcements; they were calls to action, inviting students and staff to contribute gently used clothing
that would otherwise go to waste. By encouraging donations of gently used clothing, we are not only
providing for those in need but also taking a stand against the environmental impact of textile waste.
Each piece of clothing donated will help reduce waste and support the concept of reuse, contributing
to more sustainable production patterns.

To facilitate this, we placed collection baskets in the hostels, making it easy for donors to drop off their
contributions. After a week of gathering clothes, we moved on to the dry-cleaning phase to ensure that
each garment was fresh and pristine for the recipients. We then collaborated with Abiade Dire, a
dedicated volunteer who expertly handled the tie-dye process, adding a vibrant touch to each garment.
The clothes were then sorted by gender and size, ensuring that each item would find its way to the right
recipient. With the clothes ready, we moved to the packaging phase, creating custom bags that were
designed specifically for this outreach, which not only served practical purpose but symbolized the
care and effort behind the initiative.

Our mission to touch lives began at Offa, where we started by visiting the King’s Palace. We sought
the King’s blessing and support for our mission, and his warm reception and advice were invaluable.
This endorsement not only validated our efforts but also strengthened our connection with the local
community. From the palace, we proceeded to the streets of Offa, where we identified children in need
of clothing. Distributing the well packaged clothes to these children was a deeply moving experience.
The smiles and expressions of gratitude we encountered were a poignant reminder of the impact of our
efforts. We captured these moments with photographs, preserving the joy and relief on the faces of the
recipients.

The success of this clothing drive was not a solitary achievement; it was a collective effort made
possible through partnerships and collaboration. In line with Sustainable Development Goal 17:
Partnerships for the Goals, our initiative exemplified the importance of working together to address
local challenges. SDG 17 emphasizes that no single entity can achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals on its own. Our collaboration with volunteers, local leaders, donors, and the Offa community is
a testament to the power of these partnerships. By joining hands, we were able to extend our reach and
make a far greater impact than we could have alone.

As we reflect on this rewarding experience, we are inspired to continue our efforts and build on this
momentum. Each small act of kindness contributes to a larger movement of positive change, and we
are committed to fostering this spirit of giving and community support.
We at Colgar sincerely thank everyone who played a part in this event. Your support and dedication
are deeply appreciated. If this outreach has inspired you, we encourage you to engage in similar
initiatives or start one in your own community. Together, we can make a profound difference in the
lives of those around us.

The post CHARITY CLOTHING DRIVE OUTREACH IN OFFA, KWARA STATE appeared first on Colgar foundation.

I quickly became involved in the same meetings I had seen my brother participate in as we planned our first social outreach project for the year 2024. Our plan was to visit a Community Grammar school in Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria to provide scholarships and educational materials to pupils. Despite primary education being free and compulsory, UNESCO has reported that the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria has reached 20.2 million, a figure that has doubled over the decades.

Alas, it was the day of the outreach and I was sure excited at the prospect of being a part of a notable cause as well as nervous as I had never assumed so much responsibility before.

I was picked up at my residence by the state coordinator. We met with other volunteers at the school and then proceeded directly to the principal’s office. We paid the school fees for 20 students and provided all students with socks, books, and pens.Afterwards, we went to visit the pupils in their classrooms. Our State Coordinator, Mr. Farooq Sanni, delivered a motivational speech about the importance of education in their lives. Following the speech, we organized a quiz competition on current affairs. The winners received branded t-shirts as rewards, courtesy of our sponsors: BAZ, STR, and DISTRICT.

I asked a few students about their career choices and an interesting conversation followed. One student, a boy named John, said he wanted to become a medical astrologer – a field of study I had never heard of. He explained what it meant; I left Tanke feeling more knowledgeable than when I had arrived. This further proves that providing ample opportunities for these students guarantees their success. They will not only run but also fly.

After distributing educational materials such as books, pens, and socks to the pupils, we took pictures with them before leaving. Their heartfelt “Thank you, Colgar” chants filled me with a sense of accomplishment.

I gained valuable experience after just one day of volunteering at a charity event, and I am thankful to our generous donors for their contributions.

If you are interested in making a real change in the society, don’t forget to check out Colgar’s website for information on how you can make a significant impact.

P.S.: I went to bed with a big smile plastered on my face after the outreach.

The post Partial School Fees Outreach appeared first on Colgar foundation.

This discovery prompted the COLGAR team to lead an outreach on period poverty and menstrual care. On the 22nd of March 2024, we set out to government day secondary school in Ilorin, Kwara state and we were met with enthusiastic young girls eager to hear what we had to disseminate towards the cause. In as much as every young girl present learnt a variety of new things, I, in the same vein learnt a lot. It was quite startling to learn that majority of the young girls didn’t know what actions to take when they faced menstrual cramps. We educated them on what meals to abstain from and the foods to eat that could promote their overall menstrual health. They also learnt how to properly count the days in their cycle so as to enable them to prepare for their period day as most of them lacked access to a smartphone or the internet where they could reach apps like Flo that help to keep track of menstrual cycle days. 

One would expect that every lady should be able to afford a pad but this isn’t the case as most of these girls come from underprivileged families. Sanitary pads and tampons are a luxury for them, rather than the necessity they truly are. About 40% of them reported that they use tissues when bleeding due to the high cost of tampons.

In a bid to alleviate this challenge faced amongst the girls at government day secondary school, COLGAR distributed sanitary towels to each girl present as well as educate them on the proper usage of pad in order to maintain a proper hygiene. The girls were really excited to receive free pads as it would ease the financial burden of how to get pads for their next cycle. 

It was a really fun experience informing the girls about their body and learning on their different challenges as well as their lack of knowledge on critical things about their cycle. Sharing the pads was quite a seamless process as the girls were cooperative and receptive. As a team, the major challenge we faced was….

The highlight of the outreach for me was the inexplicable joy so evident on the faces of these young girls as they received their pads which made it a huge success in my opinion and this couldn’t have been achieved without the help of the volunteers, myself included who arrived at the venue on time and also ensured to assist with educating the young girls and sharing the sanitary towels as well as other refreshments. 

At COLGAR we do not relent in our efforts to alleviate period poverty and we’re constantly making plans to ensure our next “Fight period poverty outreach” surpasses the previous one. We believe with this small acts of kindness and enlightenment we can reduce the amount of young ladies suffering from period impoverishment. 

This article is also a prompt to everyone who comes across it to indulge in conversations about period poverty and also try to the best of their ability to give out free pads to those who are in dire need. You could also spread information about the cause through social media. 

If you would like to be a volunteer at COLGAR or donate to support, kindly visit www.colgar.org . Together we can FIGHTthe pandemic called PERIOD POVERTY.

The post FIGHTING PERIOD POVERTY appeared first on Colgar foundation.