A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Dorcas Ugomma Chukwu, has successfully completed two personal Community Development Service (CDS) projects aimed at improving digital education and promoting menstrual health among young people in the area.
Chukwu disclosed that the projects, which she described as personal targets before the completion of her national service, reached 100 students through a free Computer-Based Test (CBT) training programme for JAMB candidates and provided menstrual health awareness and sanitary support to 200 girls under the “Pad A Girl Initiative.”
According to her, the figures represent the actual number of beneficiaries and not projected targets.
Speaking on her experience, Chukwu said her first project exposed her to a bigger challenge confronting public schools in the community. She recalled that while seeking financial support from stakeholders, including officials at the Esan West Local Government Secretariat, she was informed that many government-owned schools lacked basic computer facilities.
“I had gone to seek support for the CBT project when someone told me that public schools in the area did not even have computer systems. That statement changed my perspective and inspired a new vision,” she said.
The corps member explained that she subsequently conceived a project to facilitate the donation of five desktop computers to her local government chairman’s alma mater and spent more than two months writing proposals, visiting offices, and seeking sponsorship.
Despite the challenges and limited progress, Chukwu said she remained committed to the vision, even as she neared the end of her service year.
She noted that sharing the idea publicly inspired others, including her roommate, who also went on to execute a personal CDS project.
Reflecting on her journey, Chukwu said completing her second CDS project renewed her determination to continue pursuing initiatives that create lasting impact in communities.
“Now I am ready to hang my boot,” she said, expressing satisfaction with the successful completion of the two projects while reaffirming her commitment to advancing the campaign for improved digital learning facilities in public schools.
