Our 2016 fundraising theme was #ProjectArise to raise funds to purchase bunk beds for students of CCC, Uyo Nigeria. The theme was chosen for the 2016 fundraising effort because though CCC is a boarding school, more than 80% of the students are day students and many of them walk many miles daily to and from school. This situation impacts negatively on discipline, moral standard and overall academic performance of students in the school. While there are numerous factors for the high percentage of day students in the school, lack of beds has been identified as critical. Indeed, of those who are boarding, as many as three students share beds meant for one while others sleep on blankets on the floor, hence Project Arise (from the floor).
We were hoping to raise enough funds to purchase 100 double bunk beds. We ended up raising enough money to purchase 130 thanks to our family members, friends, colleagues and supporters.
The beds were delivered by our president, Dr. Patience Akpan-Obong, on May 5, 2017 to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Paul Udofia, who received them on behalf of the school. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Otuekong Ezekiel Nya-Etok, an internationally renowned architect, who was chairman of the occasion; the world famous (soccer) Coach Samson Siasia; Elder Patrick Albert, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Nigerian Union of Journalists; two former commissioners from Akwa Ibom and Sokoto States; national president of the CCC Old Girls Association, Mrs. Hannah Essien; President of the Calabar Chapter of CCC Old Girls Association, Prof. Theresa Ekanem; principal of the school, Mrs. Caroline Udoh; teachers, students and Uyo-based alumni of the school.
Video of the #ProjectArise commissioning ceremony is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXd9HlBMDds
