Operation Owina
Donation protected
The mission of Operation Owina is to provide backpacks, school supplies, classroom instruments, and musical instruction to the impoverished students at Owina Primary School in Benin City, Nigeria.
You are invited to join us in this endeavor by making a contribution of school supplies (see list below) or money towards the purchase of items on the list. You can outfit a child with a backpack filled with school supplies with a $10.00 donation.
Operation Owina was developed by Blessed Onaiwu, a Master’s student enrolled in the music education program at Texas Woman’s University. She was inspired to initiate the project after traveling to Benin City in June 2015 to teach music to the students in Owina Primary School. What began as a graduate music education project evolved into a mission to improve the quality of the Owina students’ education. She plans to return to Benin City in November 2015 with backpacks, school supplies, and musical instruments for all 400 children, and teach music to the students.
Owina Primary School, built in 1960, serves a population of 400 students. Nine dedicated teachers seek to educate the students against all odds. The school building is in disrepair and contains asbestos in the roof, which poses a health hazard. Ceiling tiles are either missing or are stained by water that leaks into the rooms when it rains. There is no electricity, so open windows and doors provide light and air. The school grounds are muddy, and there is no fence surrounding the property, so people continually walk across the premises when school is in session. There are no restrooms or toilet paper, so students have to relieve themselves outside on the school ground, running the risk of being bitten by scorpions and snakes. The room Blessed was provided for teaching music was filthy and the floor was covered with garbage, requiring her to remove the garbage and literally having to get on her hands and knees and scrub the floor. In spite of the deplorable conditions of the school facilities, the pupils exhibited sheer joy.
When "Auntie Blessed." (the name the Owina students gave her) announced it was time for her to leave, the students started crying, so she assured them she was returning in November and asked them what they wanted her to bring them. Their requests included backpacks, school supplies, recorders, and classroom percussion instruments. One of the boys said he wanted an apple because he had seen them, but had never tasted one.
Education is one way the students can break the cycle of poverty. Music can serve as an educational tool, but can also provide students an added incentive to attend school in a country where school attendance is optional. Blessed saw how much the children loved music and the hunger in their eyes to learn more. She said, “If students think they are going to school in a dirty place, they will treat it like one. If they do not see the importance of education they will remain where they are. These students are brilliant and intelligent and they have so much to offer. I believe that through music and proper education they will go far because there is power in music.”
We would like to express our profound gratitude for your willingness to be an invisible hand that gives hope and support to the students at Owina Primary School. Any size or type of contribution would be most appreciated.
If you would like to donate backpacks, schools supplies, or musical instruments found on the list posted above, either take them to the Music Office on the 1st floor of the TWU Music Building, or mail them to:
Dr. Vicki Baker
Texas Woman's University
P. O. Box 425768
Denton, TX 76204-5768
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at [email redacted].
You are invited to join us in this endeavor by making a contribution of school supplies (see list below) or money towards the purchase of items on the list. You can outfit a child with a backpack filled with school supplies with a $10.00 donation.
Operation Owina was developed by Blessed Onaiwu, a Master’s student enrolled in the music education program at Texas Woman’s University. She was inspired to initiate the project after traveling to Benin City in June 2015 to teach music to the students in Owina Primary School. What began as a graduate music education project evolved into a mission to improve the quality of the Owina students’ education. She plans to return to Benin City in November 2015 with backpacks, school supplies, and musical instruments for all 400 children, and teach music to the students.
Owina Primary School, built in 1960, serves a population of 400 students. Nine dedicated teachers seek to educate the students against all odds. The school building is in disrepair and contains asbestos in the roof, which poses a health hazard. Ceiling tiles are either missing or are stained by water that leaks into the rooms when it rains. There is no electricity, so open windows and doors provide light and air. The school grounds are muddy, and there is no fence surrounding the property, so people continually walk across the premises when school is in session. There are no restrooms or toilet paper, so students have to relieve themselves outside on the school ground, running the risk of being bitten by scorpions and snakes. The room Blessed was provided for teaching music was filthy and the floor was covered with garbage, requiring her to remove the garbage and literally having to get on her hands and knees and scrub the floor. In spite of the deplorable conditions of the school facilities, the pupils exhibited sheer joy.
When "Auntie Blessed." (the name the Owina students gave her) announced it was time for her to leave, the students started crying, so she assured them she was returning in November and asked them what they wanted her to bring them. Their requests included backpacks, school supplies, recorders, and classroom percussion instruments. One of the boys said he wanted an apple because he had seen them, but had never tasted one.
Education is one way the students can break the cycle of poverty. Music can serve as an educational tool, but can also provide students an added incentive to attend school in a country where school attendance is optional. Blessed saw how much the children loved music and the hunger in their eyes to learn more. She said, “If students think they are going to school in a dirty place, they will treat it like one. If they do not see the importance of education they will remain where they are. These students are brilliant and intelligent and they have so much to offer. I believe that through music and proper education they will go far because there is power in music.”
We would like to express our profound gratitude for your willingness to be an invisible hand that gives hope and support to the students at Owina Primary School. Any size or type of contribution would be most appreciated.
If you would like to donate backpacks, schools supplies, or musical instruments found on the list posted above, either take them to the Music Office on the 1st floor of the TWU Music Building, or mail them to:
Dr. Vicki Baker
Texas Woman's University
P. O. Box 425768
Denton, TX 76204-5768
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at [email redacted].
Organizer
Bless Onaiwu
Organizer
Frisco, TX
