Taking Responsibility: Knowledge for Change

This week officially marked the end of the #ichoose campaign. It was indeed a hope-raising experience knowing that they were youths and teenagers out there who believed in so many positive ideals and were ready to stand up for what they believed in. A special thank you to all those who participated in this campaign as their actions no matter how little has been deposited in the ever-growing bank of impact in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. Here is a big thank you to all those that particpated; Everyone that liked the Facebook page, Law School campuses in Bwari and Lagos, University of Abuja, Baze University, All Nations University College Ghana, Our impact counterparts from Sierra Leone and Serbia, UN #Youthnow web feed and you reading this post. You have been amazing.

We at the Butterfly Mind Initiative are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future and we know that with persons like #ichoose campaign participants, our world will indeed become a better place. For those who did not have the opportunity to participate, this month presents another opportunity as we will be embarking on another social media campaign to reflect the hope and aspirations of the Nigerian/African youth. We are in a very important and vital age for youth development and together we can increase that momentum and join other youths around the globe in changing their world.

This final week on the #ichoose campaign was enlightening as it reflected youths who believed and understood that their knowledge is a vital instrument for change. We had a spoken word artist who ended our campaign and young law-students who have chosen to use their knowledge of law as a tool for impact. I guess it begs an important question. What knowledge do you have and how are you using that knowledge to impact your community?

GALLERY:

 

Taking Responsibility: The Liberating effect of Words

The power of words will forever remain a mystery. It is amazing how a word that isn’t ‘hurt’  has the power to cause pain and how a word that isn’t ‘love’ can still be held so dear. In an effort to build our world, words become our foundations, words also form the blocks with which we build and depending on our choice of words, our buildings either remain rock solid or come falling at the slightest tempest, made up of words still.

We are ruled by words. The direction in which a nation goes is determined by how convinced the people are in one man’s choice of words. With these words, we are either sold into slavery or led to freedom. We are only as
fashionable as the words we put on and as healthy as the words we digest. Our nights are defined by the words with which we make our beds and our lives are characterized by the words we hold on to. When lost or in doubt, words form the questions or become the maps that guide us towards self-awareness.
Words aren’t just words, especially when they form the lines of our favourite songs, poems, quotes, books or movies. I have become addicted to words and even more so, amazed by how people use words to tell powerful stories that inspire change.

Kendrick Lamar’s new album title ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ is explained in the song ‘Mortal Man’ inspired by words from his good friend who said, “The Caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it. It’s only job is to eat or consume everything around it, in order to protect itself from this Mad City. By consuming it’s environment, the Caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive. One thing it notices is how the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly. The butterfly represents the talent, thoughtfulness and the beauty within the Caterpillar. But having a harsh outlook on life, the Caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak and figures out a ways to pimp it to its own benefits. Already surrounded by this mad city, the caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon which institutionalizes him. He can no longer see past his own thoughts. He’s trapped. While trapped inside these walls, certain ideas take roots such as going home and bringing back new concepts to this mad city. The result…wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant. Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that the caterpillar never considered… ending the eternal struggle. Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different, they are one and the same.”

Coincidentally, these profound and thought provoking words lend a voice to the Butterfly Mind Initiative’s belief that the emerging dreams of young people should be tended to with love so that they can progress smoothly from being caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.

I write this piece, not knowing where it is headed but like every other narrative I have written or shared, I hope it inspires us to craft our own words into a song, poem or story that gives wings to every butterfly within reach.

Welcome to the Butterfly Project Blog

The butterfly mind initiative is a vision built on the foundation of love and impact. We care deeply about our community and the bright young minds in it.

WHY WE CARE

We care because we believe in three cardinal principles;

1.      Love – Love is all encompassing. It fuels hope, positivity and belief. It is the greatest of every emotion that dwells on earth and one that connects us to the heavens. Most importantly, it is a tool capable of saving humanity

2.     Community development – We firmly believe that our society and the world at large can only progress through meaningful community development activities. All our impact activities are geared towards enabling us and the volunteers that partner with us participate fully and actively in community development. The synergy, growth and communion which results from such belief is what drives us.

3.      Young persons – We at butterfly mind initiative believe strongly that young people are the leaders of the future and that the community has a responsibility to invest and develop the minds of the future today. We simply seek to be a platform through which this dream and vision becomes a reality.

HOW WE CARE

We care by engaging actively in projects that build the minds of young people. We believe that the emerging dreams and personalities of young people should be tended to with love, care and respect so that they can progress smoothly from child – youth – adult. Like the symbolic butterfly that progresses from lava – pupa – adult butterfly. We hope that through impact projects, young people will grow and soar like beautiful butterflies. When this is done, the community will reap bountifully from having active citizens.

These cardinal principles are what drive us to care for young people, the community, our volunteers and the world at large.

HOW YOU CAN CARE

This beautiful journey of impact would not be complete without the amazing efforts of people like you. At Butterfly Mind Initiative, we believe everyone has all it takes to care for their community and that little acts of love do count. Our projects involves a lot of small acts which when added together will create a powerful effect. 

The butterfly project and the community will be honoured to have you volunteer your mind, skills, resources or person to any of our projects. Check out our blog posts to see our ongoing projects or send us a mail at butterflyprojectng@gmail.com for volunteering opportunities, impact ideas and partnership details.