By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
In an effort to improve the living standard of the Almajiri Child, a Bauchi based NGO, Barrister Ibrahim Kashim (BIK) Foundation has graduated first set of five hundred (500) Almajiri Students under its program tagged “Almajiri Summer School Program” recently in Bauchi.
The children, who were selected from different Tsangaya Schools within Bauchi metropolis, have undergone special intensive vocational training and reading skills activities which led to their graduation and presentation of certificates and gifts to best performing among them.
In his welcome remarks, the founder of the NGO, Barr. Ibrahim Kashim said the goal and vision of the Almajiri Summer School program is to create a system to change the current narrative of Almajiris from young people who roam the streets, to young people who are seeking both Islamic and mainstream education.
He also disclosed that the foundations’ other areas of competence includes interventions on environmental sanitation and hygiene, health, education, governance, among others.
Mr Kashim, who doubles as the Secretary to Bauchi State Government, also urged the public spirited individuals and corporate organizations to always consider the improvement of lives of the Almajiris as collective responsibility of all.
In a goodwill message, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Education Bauchi state, Dr Aliyu Usman Tilde commended the effort of the BIK Foundation and called on the inclusion of Islamic education and theology into formal education system.
In their separate remarks, the executive chairman Bauchi State Orphans and Vulnerable Children Agency (BASOVCA) Hajiya Yelwa Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and SSA Small Scales Enterprises Mallam Nasiru Yahuza Bauchi both called on the Participating Tsangaya Schools to ensure sustainability of the system and further cautioned them not to allow the program to alter with the Qur’anic education. They also pledged to provide the enabling environment for the program to sustained and replicated across the entire state.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to the best performing students as well as the Volunteers and the heads of the partners Tsangaya.
Our correspondent reports that BIK Foundation is a community based NGO that works towards the multi-sectoral improvement of the lives, well being and living standards of the people. The organization is focusing on youths and women empowerment, social inclusion, advocacy and community engagement to achieve sustainable results. It also seeks to deepen relationship and trust between government, organisations and communities through an interface mechanism for feedback on both sides.