Task 6: 'Evaluation' means "to see the value in something".

Hmmm.... so I waited until the VERY LAST DAY, just to try and make sure that my 'change/transformation' in my community would accomplished.... sadly for now, it hasn't been..... yet...

So, for me this game was challenging; I learned quite a number of postive things, among them:
* it opened me up to take a more pro-active approach in making my dreams a reality and accomplishing my goals.
*for me, the idea that from what i have i could still give and make a difference in someone else's life really hit me, ... big!
Ususally, we tend to focus on our circumstances a bit too closely and are blinded from a broader perspective, and seeing the plight of others and not seeing that I could help in some measure, no matter how small.
* This game has better taught me to give thanks for that which i have and that someone somewhere has it a bit rougher than i am....
* from not being able to complete task 5, i've learnt that maybe i should be a little more pushy/ persistent, cajole, coerce, beg, just to get it done. Be more result oriented, that would be my attitude change from the onset of any new project i undertake.

Significant change? Yes please! I now sort out even my siblings clothes to see what can be salvaged and useful to someone else.
I liked the fact that the game had set goals, objectives and deadlines, and this really helped to energise me to accomplish my tasks.
Would I play the game again? Most definitely! On a larger scale? ..emmm.. slightly, but this time i will be a lot more pushy in getting things done while respecting other peoples private space and autonomy.

  -from a borrowed computer,
Sincerely yours,
Chiemela Azurunwa.
Nov., 2010

Task 5: 4,3,2,1,...GO!!!

Ok, so this is where the real hitch in the plan comes in ...(the plot thickens!) (lol.)  
  This is task 5, this is where we put into action all our best laid plans and resources gathered... but then, you know what they say about best laid plans...
I have had more than two weeks to accomplish this part of the game, but I've been on stand-by all the while, due to the fact that only one neighbour has come up with his portion of the alloted contribution. I even went and got another carpenter who offered a cheaper rate, but I understand that the economic recession is a real issue that a lot of families are having to deal with, and so unless there is some action/event that is totally necessary, most people would rather not part with cash too quickly. :-(( sad!

Task 4: We Are Not Alone!

Hi everyone, I know i've been really late with my blog posts, but my computer crashed and i had to send it in and so no computer and no internet access. Apologies once again, thanks.

For task 4, we are to gather a group of people who can help accomplish our goal and show the behind the scenes planning.
So who can help and by what means?
i. Neighbours/ Co-tenants : by contributing the required funds/ amount of cash to accomplish the task
ii. Carpenter : by buying the wooden door and fixing it.

How did i gather people?
I called a residents meeting and explained what i wanted us to do, it's benefits (namely better security) and how we could all help to ensure that it was accomplished.

List of resources:
i.Contributed cash from myself and co-tenants
ii. Skilled Carpenter to do the labour intensive job

Show Planning: http://prezi.com/g0hj2chrdfi6/edit/#24_1077200

Great ideas are born from small causes.

Task 3. Task three is about having an idea (however little) that can be put together and implemented in a community that I am part of, to improve that community.

I live in a large compound with 3 blocks, each housing four (4) flats.

In my block, the main entrance door is dilapidated (and I'm told it had been that way long before I moved in) and thus poses a security risk.

 So I chose this as my project, to repair this door.
In order to accomplish this, I would need the agreement and co-operation of my co-tenants. I would need a couple of things namely:

• to hire a carpenter to either buy or build a new door
• get an accurate costing for this
• share the bill equally between all four flats
• collect monies from each flat
• pay an advance to the carpenter so he can get materials and start the job

So here goes... wish me luck.

I make the difference!

hmmm... so, I didn't realize just how tasking sorting trash could be!

   Ok, this week's task was making a difference and part of it was recycling.
Here in Nigeria, recycling waste (or anything at all) hasn't quite caught on yet. People still throw everything out, - together!
So for me, starting a sorting and recycling program at home was a challenge that i looked forward to, partly perplexed as to what to do with what i sorted and then HOW to recycle. I started with the sorting bit first; i got different bags for paper, plastics, clothes etc.

Here's the list of all the stuff that i threw away: 

i. perishable food items (plantain peels, onion skins, etc)

ii. bits and pieces of paper (old receipts, etc)

iii. discarded biscuit, sweet & chocolate wrappers

iv. used phone recharge vouchers

v. noodle wrappers

   Then it was on to my excesses. And I did realize that no matter how little I thought I had, there are those that really have less than I do. Things that I don't use anymore that I donated included:

i. my primary school text-books and old story books from way back - went to a neighbour of mine who's a single mother with 4 kids who are in school

ii. a few t-shirts - gave these to a young lad (Emeka) who lives a few houses away on my street

iii. old torn jeans (4 pairs) - well used and un-wearable, so into the trash they went

iv. a suit

v. old photography magazines

vi. old worn shoes (4 pairs) - gave my neighbour who rides a commercial bike (popularly known as 'Okada') a pair of Reebok sneakers, but no takers for these ones yet :-( 

   Ok, that done, it was now observation time: what I consume. As a young bachelor and business man, I tend to be on the move a lot and so eat out even though I prefer home cooked meals. I try to keep away from junk foods as much as possible, but i do have a sweet tooth and so eat a lot of chocolates and ice-cream *mouth watering already*; and another thing, i tend to make a lot of phone calls, both for business and personal relationships hence a lot of money goes into buying phone recharge vouchers.

So this week I made soup and stew and so cut down on eating out, that's about ₦1,500 per day multiplied by five days which comes to ₦7,500, about $50 on food this week. On sweets, about $10, making a total of $60 saved! But unfortunately, I didn't cut down on making calls this week.

So there, that's how my week was, see ya soon. :-)

Who am I ...now?

Who am i? sometimes i wonder myself, what am i here for? is there a definite knowing or do we all make it up as we go along on our journey through this time and space?

I feel young, I feel new; I feel like all most of the things i learnt in the years before have helped me to this point but now i find i must learn more, do more to succeed and thrive. It's a new era, the game changes fast and i must go with the tide or be swept aside like a broken branch washed ashore. ...but what is this i find? no pressure? or is it there and I am handling it quite well, taking it in stride? I believe the latter is the case, and even though I often ask what it takes to make it in this industry in my country, I find I am gradually making head-way, I am on the right path and my light has begun to shine.
I dream of raising the next generation of photographers and artists who use the medium as a voice, who look beyond making a living but seeing it as Art and that their art can influence/change the society. Even though I am daily faced with the seemingly up-hill task of pooling the resources together to make this happen.

My purpose in taking part in the 'Warriors Without Weapons' program is to be able to look beyond myself, beyond the daily hustle for sustenance, to see me as part of a whole and not just a lone individual, and be able to give of myself to others and help them achieve something through the skills i would have imbibed during the course of the program.

In a way, I have done something like this(WWW) before; I was a member of a gospel dance group for youths in universities called 'Spirit Of David' Gospel Dance Club that helped form other dance groups in schools which enabled young people be positively engaged in their spare time.

When I get back from the program, I hope to have better ideas and more insight as to how to develop a community program for youth in my area, and a better understanding of what type of program that would be of benefit to them.

A first foray...

Hello everyone, my name is Chiemela Azurunwa, my friends and colleagues call me Chaz though.
I am a photographer and entreptreneur living in Lagos, Nigeria. I enjoy meeting people, travelling, swimming, reading and watching movies. I enjoy helping people and would love to be a catalyst in helping young people fullfill their potentials.
This is my first attempt at blogging and i believe it can only get better. ...enjoy.