This is Cam from Humanity Effect. We are a nonprofit organization providing education and care to over 750 children in the water slum of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria. Makoko is home to 200,000 of the world’s poorest people, where families live in makeshift homes built on wooden stilts above a heavily polluted lagoon. It’s with a very heavy heart that we share this emergency update:

Last week, without notice, large-scale demolitions began across the community as part of a long-term plan for luxury condo and hotel development. As a result, tens of thousands of people, including many of our students, have had their homes destroyed and, in some cases, set on fire, leaving families homeless and sleeping in canoes.

For the past three years, Humanity Effect has been active in Makoko and operates two schools and an orphanage within the water. As demolitions continue, our facilities are now at great risk of being destroyed.

School has been suspended, and we are urgently relocating the children from our orphanage to the mainland to get them out of harm’s way. This fundraiser has two goals:

First, to cover emergency costs associated with relocating our orphans to the mainland and providing safe housing, food, and basic necessities over the coming weeks and months.

Second, to begin laying the groundwork for a long-term solution. While the situation continues to evolve, this may include building schools and an orphanage on the mainland so these displaced children can continue their education and grow up in a safe environment.

On a personal note, our hearts break for the tens of thousands of people whose lives have been torn apart. For the 750 children in our schools who may never have another chance at education. And for the parents who have watched their children die amid the chaos. It has been painful to see how little media attention this crisis has received, even as families and children face unimaginable loss.

Any support you’re able to give, whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser, directly helps protect our children and gives a voice to people who have had theirs stripped away. Humanity Effect is entirely volunteer-run, and nearly 100% of funds raised go directly to supporting our work in Nigeria.

This will be a long and difficult journey, but one we refuse to give up on. Thank you for standing with the kids in Makoko when it matters most.

With gratitude,

Team Humanity Effect