APPLY: Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative 2014

The United States Consulate General, Lagos in 2011 launched a dynamic youth engagement initiative known as Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) as a way of bringing together and empowering some of the brightest Nigerian youths who have brilliant ideas and passion for social change.

The initiative is named after the former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter C. Carrington who till date is seen as one of the most respected American diplomat.

Several social projects have been funded and successfully implemented by different sets of Fellows since 2011 till date. The fellowship program open application on a yearly basis for interested candidates to either as individual or group.

To know more about the application requirements and view reports of projects by past and present CYFI Fellows, click on this link:
Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative 2014

To follow up with the CYFI Alumni Fellows, follow @CYFI_ALUMNI on twitter and Like to Facebook page CYFI Alumni

Application for the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative 2014 closes in January.

Please share information with young people who might be interested.

SIMPLE, BUT CLASSIC (poem)

Simple and classic, she was dressed up in a gown so beautiful

Her golden earrings and wired bracelet were just but a perfect fit

She had no hidden motive to show-off her curves or entice the feasting eyes

Nevertheless, her graceful countenance and fluffy natural hair made her the center of attraction

Even her lips were shaped with smiles, and her white teeth shined so brightly in between

Hastily and hurriedly, the lustful eyes began to gazed and strategize

Excitedly they thought she was a game, but sadly they all hunted to no avail

Then they realized that this rare specie was not a meat on sale

Awhile sitted around the corner, I looked upon her with a poetic eyes and saw a rose flower

So gently and patiently I waited like a gardener for this flower to find its owner

I waited and waited, until that perfect moment she came my way and rested on my shoulder

Finally I found a queen and I knew my waiting was not in vain

And until now, I doubt if ever I will see a maiden adorned in such beauty and simplicity like her again.

Authored by:
Ebenezer O. Akinrinade (CYFI Fellow)
+2348027701092
gent2poetry@gmail.com

[Gent2smile ©2013]

NOTE: You are free to share/rebroadcast but not allowed to edit the poem or remove the authors details.

AUGUST: Ask Until God Unleash Something Tangible

I looked back to where this journey begun,
And in a moment I realized that I am no longer young.
I think to myself, all I want now is a miracle
And I must ‘ask until God unleash something tangible’

Alas, the Giver has always given us so much of what we needed without asking
And in haste we receive the goodies, rush off away without thanking.
We squandered it all, and turn back to him expecting another cup with blessing full
Oh, what a great fool we all are to be so unkind and ungrateful

Though The Giver has it all and does not beg anyone for anything
Except that we praise and say THANK YOU for everything
Such that His heart will be gladdened to want to give us much more,
Make us sprout and flourish like the tree of sycamore.

How sweet the voice and melodies of the praiser
Who never take for granted each and every blessings of The Giver
He shall not be ashamed to lay down his needs
Before The Giver who knows all by name and keep record of our deeds.

Written & Authored by:
Ebenezer O. Akinrinade
Tel: +2348027701092
Email: gent2poetry@gmail.com; ebenezer.akinrinade@gmail.com
Twitter: @gent2smile

SUMMER CAMP NIGERIA: Call for Volunteers

Summer Camp Nigeria 2013 is an amazing two-week holiday training program organized by Brainy Educare Services for teens and preteens (8-16years old) from within and outside Nigeria. The program is set to run from August 11^th to 25^th, 2013 and will feature programs like skill acquisition, character building among other fun activities that can inspire learning.
One of the major goals that Brainy Educare hopes to achieve with the camp is to teach the kids things that they ordinarily won’t learn in school. Hence, they see the need to partner with skilled professionals who can volunteer to teach and impact kids with basic knowledge during the camping event.

The organizer of the Summer Camp Nigeria 2013 has therefore opened its door to invite interested volunteers in the following areas:
1) Language Tutor for oral and written Spanish, French or Chinese.
2) Vocational Skills: Bag Making (using fabric), Bead making/Wire works, Painting/drawing, Cooking, Computer Programming, Tailoring, Music, Drama, Graphic Designs, etc.
3) Self-Defense and Safety Culture.
4) Social etiquette
5) Sports / Fitness Director (to oversee morning aerobics and other sporting activities).

Apart from the Self Defense class which would require the facilitator to come for a maximum of two times, most of the activities mentioned above would require other major volunteer facilitators to come to the camp regularly.
Other activities that will feature once on the time table are:
 
a) MY NIGERIA: The aim of this session is to educate the kids more about Nigeria, giving them the opportunity to know about other aspects of the country (e.g. the various ethnic groups, culture and languages in Nigeria, so they do not think that the country is made up of only Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas).

b) TODAY’S ICON: This is a special hangout session where the kids interact and play with famous and positive role models with proven track records (e.g. Writers, On-Air-Personalities, Business Mogul, Entertainment Veterans, etc.).
Above all, Brainy Educare is only requesting for committed volunteer facilitators who are skilled, patient and can work well with kids.

To volunteer, send the following on / before July 25^th, 2013:
1. Your short profile.
2. Area of interest (from the list provided above).
3. Recent picture
Send the details to info@summercampnigeria.com with the email subject heading “Summer Camp Volunteer”
Please note that only selected volunteers will be contacted.

For more information, partnership or sponsorship
Visit – http://www.summercampnigeria.com; http://www.brainyeducare.com
Call – 08102040382 (Kunbi) or 08179648240 (Abdulrahman)
Twitter: @BrainyEducare1
Facebook Page: Brainy Educare

I Don't Wanna Be A Star (poem)

Young as I am in a world larger than I
I don’t want to be a star twinkling in the skies.
The voice in my head tells me each day that I can be whatever I choose to be
And my heart beckons for a light brighter than that glittery dot.
Indeed, I want to be more than just a star!

In a world crowded by billions of stars
I don’t want my shining light to be mistaken for another.
The truth that none but me look exactly just like me, shows that I am unique.
And as bright as the sunlight unbroken by clouds at noonday
Such is the light that I am made be!

Even when my youthfulness is overtaken by greyness
I still don’t want to be a star twinkling somewhere from afar in the skies.
The moon is what I want to be, beaming light in the way of strangers and travelers,
And on the path of every child who is afraid of the shadows by night.
I want to shine brighter while I am still alive.

But when at last this greyness is overtaken by death
I beseech you to put me among the many stars of our heroes past.
For therein shall the sparkles of my twinkling light shine forth with rare brilliance
A starry symbol of inspiration to be looked upon by young dreamers
Who, just like me, desire to shine the brightest.

Written & Authored by:
Ebenezer O. Akinrinade
+2348027701092
gent2poetry@gmail.com, ebenezer.akinrinade@gmail.com
http://gent2smile.blogspot.com

JUNE (Journey Unto New Era)

When this road was set before me
The fear of the unknown petrified me
For I did not know where the road leads.
But the wind of faith blew and carried me…
Pushing me towards the very road I could not dare.
I yielded to the voice of faith telling me all will be well.
And when through the valley of shadows and death I walked
Where too many had met with inescapable dead-end
Faith turned on its shining light on my path
And shadows, and death, skipped off without a trace.
Today, I looked back at the very place where I begun
And realized am halfway through and still standing.
So I conclude to take a little rest,
A little catching of fresh breathe,
And large doses of faith to carry me through another half.
The journey unto new era continues from here.
Many miles still lie ahead of me;
Many troubled waters to swim across,
High mountains to climb over,
And sinking sands to walk through.
I need all the strength I can get to succeed on this quest
Because I have passed through many thick and thin
And cannot afford to fail me and The One who chose me.

Authored by:
Ebenezer O. Akinrinade (CYFI Alumni)
[Social Worker | Poet | Book Editor]
+2348027701092
gent2poetry@gmail.com
http://gent2smile.blogspot.com
Twitter: @gent2smile

THE MUSIC WITHIN ME

There's music in me,
A thousand stanza yet unsung.

There's is music in me,
Best of songs for youtube and itunes.

There's music in me,
A healing balm for the broken heart.

There's music in me,
A song for friends and lovers to sing along.

There's music in me,
A sweet rhythm that soothes the ear.

There's music in me,
A song so beautiful even the birds wants to learn.

There's music in me,
It's a song I must sing before I depart from you.

There's music within me,
A special song for you and me.

There's music within me,
I shall sing, I will sing, I must sing.

There's music within me,
And now is the time to let the music play!

Written & Composed by:
Ebenezer O. Akinrinade (CYFI Fellow)
+2348027701092
gent2poetry@gmail.com
http://gent2smile.blogspot.com

Special Dedication: This poem is dedicated to a friend, Josie Macalino.

Eat The Honey, Not The Bee.

The greedy only think of ME and ME.

He eats both the honey and the bee.

No thought of US, except and only ME.

But what if generation's past had eaten it all

Would the greedy have had anything left to eat all?

Heed my voice, you who is greedy

And amend your ways and change indeed.

Begin to think of US and not just ME

If you do, even you will be glad you did.

Written by:
Ebenezer Akinrinade (CYFI Fellow)
+2348027701092
gent2poetry@gmail.com