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Cleaning with a Cause

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When it comes to volunteer projects, YES alumni do everything in their power to help. From class visits to well-digging, YES alumni in Nigeria actively get involved in volunteer opportunities, most of which they find or create themselves.

In September, 11 YES alumni and one non-alumni individual in Nigeria came together to help facilitate the clean up of the Gombe State Public Library. 

The group washed and dusted the desks and chairs, moved furniture and tidied up an office in the library. The project provided the people with a clean library to use and gave the alumni the opportunity to help their community.

A majority of the alumni members, as well as the non-alumni member, live in the area. Because of their proximity, the only fees the group needed to pay were their transfer fares.

Musa Fatika (YES alumnus, ACES, Sioux Falls, SD, 2013-2014) wrote the report on the library clean up and mentioned that the idea came from one of the group's monthly alumni meetings.

"The project idea was suggested by one of our alumni during one of our meetings in August," Fatika said. "We normally meet to discuss future projects we would like to embark on."

Fatika's group discusses current projects and brainstorms for future projects. Fatika explained that the members of his group are always excited to implement their project ideas and give back to the community.

"My YES group and I have planned many future projects," Fatika said. "They include a clothes, books, and textbooks drive for the less privileged; a visit to the prison and remand home in our locality; clean ups; providing help for flood victims in Benue, and we're also planning a school competition in science and arts."

Volunteerism is one of the many skills students gain while in the YES program. These skills help the students as they become alumni to get involved with other projects and programs, such as the library clean up.

Thank you to all the alumni who actively engage in their community and continue to be model YES Ambassadors!


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