I was practically teary throughout the write-up on this particular Project. I am still touched and I hope you will too. Its so humbling to see people putting smiles on people’s faces especially the less privileged. I think of people who don’t have the privilege to enjoy the things I sometimes take for granted and I’m so thankful for people like RITA OMOVBUDE – A lovely, down to earth, strong lady behind the Street Project Initiative; putting smiles and giving people hope by empowering, encouraging and providing.
Her resilience, determination and passion despite her challenges is commendable and impressive. And that’s why God has a way of rewarding people. She is currently in Washington at the YALI program which recognized her project and selected her; where she’s enjoying a time of networking, training and empowerment.Who would have thought she would meet the #1 Man of the USA –President Barrack Obama?.. Kudos Rita and God bless you. You can also catch her in House on the Rock Church at the Choir stand of course…{smiles}
RITA OMOVBUDE- Founder of Street Project
WHO IS RITA OMOVBUDE?
Rita Omovbude is a product of The WORD; a result of positive and life changing words invested in her life through Men and Women of GOD, Music, Experiences, Poetry, Books Read, words from parents and loved ones as well as her own words.
HOW AND WHEN DID THE VISION START?
The Vision of “Street Project” began to illuminate during my National Service Year in Lagos. A group of young men came together with a vision to do something different from the typical Community Service and I bought into the vision to use Music as a tool for transformation.
The Unit was called One House Music Unit and I became the Vice President. After the one year of service was over, I couldn’t stop, the fire to make an impact in my society kept burning and Street Project was conceived.
ON STREET PROJECT?
Street Project was established in 2006, however, full operations began in 2008 and since then we have consistently executed projects that have transformed people’s lives. This foundation was conceived to raise transformational youth ambassadors for Nigeria and by using performing arts as a tool; we instill values and build character traits that will empower young people.
We also search within society for genuine benevolent humanitarians who need help supporting the young people in their care. Therefore by identifying these organizations and bringing the spotlight on them, we ensure a sustained commonwealth.
WHAT PROJECTS HAVE YOU EXECUTED?
PROJECT RAW: {Talent Hunt Competition} 2010, 2011. This is an initiative focused on discovering young talents on the street, training and mentoring them until they become confident enough to face life’s challenges. A good number of the young boys and girls who have gone through our program have become youth leaders in their communities.
Project Raw: Talent Hunt Show
The fall out of this initiative led to the inauguration of The Street Project Ambassadors in 2012. Now we are on a mission to raise more youth ambassadors by developing an online talent community.
A SMILE FOR DECEMBER: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012….
Quite a number of young people are being raised in charity homes that have limited funding or resources. Every last quarter of the year, we identify a home in need of support and we raise funds to meet their needs. In 2012, we installed a Borehole for “So-said Charity Home”
Borehole installed for “So-Said Charity Home”
In 2011, we paid the school fees for 3 children in “Citadel of Grace,”
In 2010, we organized piano lessons for a period of 6 months for children in “Precious Pearls orphanage,”
Piano Lessons for “Precious Pearls orphanage,”
HAVEN PROJECT: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014
Haven Project with Rita
This initiative is a sequel to A Smile for December. After we visit a home, we make it a point of duty to see to their welfare for a whole year. We monitor their progress and provide for their needs within our capacity. However we recently adopted So-said Charity Home for the mentally ill and vulnerable in society.
ONGOING PROJECT?
Project Raw 2014 and The Haven Project 2014 are the current projects going on. This year, Project Raw is taking a new spin. We have talent scouts on the field discovering talents in music, dance, drama, comedy, fine arts, performance arts, etc and they upload their videos on our YouTube channel.
By the end of this month, we should have 600 videos of the less privileged gifted in the performing arts. They will be shortlisted and called for an audition to star in a Short movie musical that will be premiered at “Performing the World Conference” in New York.
Through the Haven Project, we are consistently delivering clothes, mattresses and other relevant supplies to charity homes.
CHALLENGES?
Since the inception of Street Project, I have been in full-time employment working as a Copywriter in some of Nigeria’s Top advertising agencies and presently Yellow Brick Road.
With my key responsibility as the Lead Visionary of Street Project and Senior Copywriter, juggling both roles is no child’s play. However, my constant interaction with young people below 25 years of age has influenced my creative work immensely especially when faced with a brief focused on a young target audience.
Funding is an ongoing challenge. Not until recently, my monthly income has been the major source of funding, so I constantly have to think of innovative ways to run each project besides using my funds.
Recruiting active volunteers is also a challenge because not everyone is wired to remain focused on long-term projects. However, I have 5 solid volunteers who have been a source of encouragement and we have employed three talent scouts and a relationship officer.
Did you see YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) coming?
RITA – If anyone said to me last year that I’ll be on a U.S sponsored initiative like YALI. I would have thought of it as mere wishful thinking. However when I saw the call for applications in January, I identified with it as an opportunity I needed to tap into and I applied.
How were you nominated and selected to Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)
RITA – So I applied by writing in January. Selections were done in Washington based on our applications. I was called for an interview with the U.S consulate in March and I received a letter from the U.S embassy congratulating me for my selection.
What was your first reaction on hearing the good news?
RITA – I was in the office when the mail came through. I waited for 5 minutes before I got the liver to open up the mail. All I saw was Congratulations and I jumped up from my chair, ran to the chill out room in the office, ran back to the open plan office, danced until I got the attention of my colleagues who read the mail on my laptop and they all celebrated with me. I was overwhelmed and so excited about the news.
After a Training Session in New Orleans via YALI
Aware that you are a gospel vocalist deeply involved in the choir, how do you combine this with your project?
RITA- I combine a lot of things with my project and I guess it’s just the way I’m wired. I love to sing. Been a chorister since I was 12years old in Church of God Mission and every other church I found myself, there was no other department I felt drawn to like the choir. When there’s a will there’s a way.
How will your ongoing project continue since you are in the white house as we speak?
RITA– I have 5 solid Volunteers, two of which have been saddled with the responsibility to manage the on-going project in my absence. They’ve been part of previous projects and know what is required of them. Thumbs up to Eduvie Ogoro, Adeyinka Adegbayibi and Tolu Ajayi.
In what way will Yali Affect Street Project?
RITA – The education, exposure, networking and funding opportunities are large doors open to boost Street Project’s growth.
So what’s next after The White house?
RITA – Coming Back home to continue building a talent community for gifted less privileged youths. A pool from which producers, directors and marketers can draw from, train and engage positively and profitably too.
What else would you want us to know about Street project?
RITA – Street Project kicked off when I was a young copywriter at 141 worldwide, with barely enough salary to carry me through. Hence I needed to think up innovative ways to communicate my passion and raise funds.
FACEBOOK was my very first Office. I established a group on Facebook and used my page and the group page as platforms to campaign my intent.
The first project I executed was ‘A smile for December’ an initiative focused on discovering and meeting the needs of less privileged charity homes and all I had was N50,000, money set aside from my meager salary. I knew I needed a lot more so I decided to make branded Street Project T-shirts about 50 of them and sold at the rate of N2,500 each.
These T-shirts sold out in the first week of making them as such doubled my funds and had enough to execute the cause at the time. It was from then onwards that I decided that the lack of funds would never hinder me from pursuing the vision of Street Project.
I have had volunteers who dropped out in the middle of projects, corporate organizations who weren’t willing to fund my projects but make product contributions.
Following up on individuals for funding and so many sleepless nights but I didn’t relent, I kept at it and little by little I have successfully been able to impact lives with drops of good deeds.
Today, not only am I a Honoree of The Future Awards in the Community Action Category, I was awarded The Champion of Change Award by M.A.D (Make a difference) awards and now a Washington Fellow. My message for other young people is to continue pursuing their dreams with vigor and doors will be open to them in pleasant places. Just keep at it!
To everyone who has been a part of Street Project’s Success Story, I say a BIG THANK YOU. I won’t have been able to do it without you. God Bless You.
Interview conducted and edited by @PriscillaPWR
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