Like all good stories, we start this one with the very familiar phrase – “once upon a time,” there was a school for children that no one paid attention to. This school was embedded in the slums of the floating city of Makoko. It had no library, power or reliable building structure, yet it was a haven for the out-of-school children of this community whose parents could not afford to send them to proper schools. What was the name of this school, you ask? 

Introducing: Roydek Academy 

Roydek Academy began as a small school in this community in Makoko surrounded by the ills of decay and dilapidation. But despite how tough it was for this school to thrive deep in the Makoko slums, The Principal, Polycarp Iliya believed in his vision. He believed in bringing underprivileged children together to a safe space where learning was accessible and fun.

Principal Polycarp, a soft-spoken man, was willing to go at this endeavour alone if that was what it took. His resolve lay in his innate desire to see the children in this community be engaged in tangible activities that took them away from the allure of the streets and provided an escape from the hardship of their everyday lives. Education was that escape. Thankfully, his belief was also shared by a group of individuals. 

Enter: The Special Foundation 

Like Principal Polycarp of Roydek Academy, The Special Foundation also had a vision. They wanted to ensure every underprivileged child could get access to quality education. They were keen on educating children who would become the leaders of Africa and help shape its future. So, when The Special Foundation met with Roydek Academy, invariably, sparks flew. It was a match made in the floating city of Makoko. 

Both parties nurtured a relationship that continues to stand the test of time. On the one hand, The Special Foundation provided sponsorships and assistance to the school. It also organised Special Summer School programs that attracted many out-of-school children each summer to learn and have fun exploring their creativity. On the other hand, Roydek Academy saw a steady increase in pupils and retention rates. In the middle, the Makoko community continues to be the better for it. 

A Search for Something Extra  

Over the years, the partnership between The Special Foundation and Roydek Academy blossomed. But an extra bit of magic was necessary for this beautiful story to thrive. On the part of The Special Foundation, despite the support provided to the Principal and pupils of Roydek Academy, they understood that the best way to sustain any valuable relationship did not only come from forging great partnerships and collaborations but from fostering the continued growth and expansion of your partners.

In the same vein, Roydek Academy understood that while having seen a rise in the number of children attending its classes, it lacked the structural environment to accommodate the influx to ensure learning was fun and memorable for the children. They understood that it was not enough to bring children to a place to learn, it was vital to ensure a conducive environment for learning also. And for a while, this little bit of magic seemed elusive. 

Enter: GardaWorld Security 

GardaWorld saw the potential of creating a lasting impact and decided to support the transformative journey of Roydek Academy and The Special Foundation. GardaWorld sought to provide integration solutions for the school as a social project to empower the Makoko community. Discussions were had, ideas were explored, and it was decided. GardaWorld, in collaboration with The Special Foundation, would support one of the programs the foundation offered —the school build project.

But like all great stories, what began as a project for integrating power and ventilation via Solar Panels soon encompassed more. The project blossomed and in addition to Solar Panels, it included the provision of whiteboards, chairs, desks, a library, building renovations, and more. The project was carried out with lightning speed and in no time, the Roydek Academy was transformed with that extra bit of magic that once seemed elusive. 

And The Story Continues…

A school which once had about ninety-something pupils inside an uncompleted building structure with no power and basic amenities was transformed into a safe and standard learning haven with a 24-hour Solar-powered electricity supply, whiteboards, a small library, class structures and more. Roydek Academy hosts over 200 children. It has become a staple of excellence and humanity in the community of Makoko. 

And the best part is, unlike every great fictional story, the last chapter of this real one isn’t finished. There’s still a lot more magic to come from Roydek Academy. By extension, there is still a lot more magic to be expected from little unknown places across the continent and the world at large. And the more people like Principal Polycarp Iliya and all the sponsors and donors at The Special Foundation and Gardaworld Security keep trying to provide access to quality education for children, the more great stories like this will be told for generations to come. Join us as a volunteer today or donate to our cause. 

Remember: 

Every child is your child, every child has a right to dream.