Mr Francis* moved to Ondo State in 1989 from Oyo State in search of better opportunities. A father of eight children, he initially made a living as a motorcycle mechanic and was able to provide for his family through his trade. Four years after settling in the community, he became interested in cocoa farming after purchasing a piece of land and establishing a cocoa plantation.
Although he ventured into cocoa farming with great optimism, he soon realised that he had underestimated the demands of the business.
"Back then, I never knew the nature of work involved in the cocoa business. I didn't have money to hire labourers, so I was the only one working on the farm."
As the farm expanded, the workload became overwhelming. Mr. Francis* gradually shifted all his attention from his motorcycle repair business to managing the farm. Unfortunately, the cocoa business did not yield the returns he had anticipated. Instead, he experienced significant financial losses that left him unable to sustain either his farming or his mechanic business.
The financial hardship had devastating consequences for his family. Unable to pay school fees, he withdrew his children from school and relied on them to support him on the cocoa and palm farms so the family could survive. "I even stopped my children from going to school for some time," he recalled.
His children, Destiny* (17) and Ayo* (16), confirmed the difficult period their family experienced. Destiny explained that he dropped out of school while in Junior Secondary School 3 because there was no money to continue his education.
"My younger brother Ayo and I used to work for people every day just to make some money for our family."
The brothers also recounted occasions when they worked for people but were never paid, further compounding the family's hardship.
Hope returned when Save the Children's Future for Every Child (FuFEC) project began implementing activities in cocoa-producing communities. The project is designed to address the root causes of child labour by strengthening household livelihoods, promoting positive parenting practices, supporting children's education, and increasing awareness of children's rights and protection. Through the project, SCI volunteers conducted house-to-house awareness sessions in the community, engaging families on the dangers of child labour and the importance of keeping children in school.
Seeing my children willing to learn reminds me of the need to continue struggling for them.
Mr. Francis attended the community sensitisation activities and was encouraged by what he learned. His children were enrolled in the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) sessions, while he participated in the Safe Families sessions.
The knowledge gained from these interventions transformed the family's outlook. Mr Francis explained that listening to his children share what they had learned during the ASRH sessions made him realise how eager they were to return to school.
Determined to give them another opportunity, he re-enrolled them in school. The children also received scholastic materials through the project, helping to ease the financial burden on the family.
Beyond education support, Mr. Francis benefited from SCI's livelihood intervention through a Cash Voucher Assistance (CVA), which enabled him to revive his palm oil processing business. The livelihood support not only restored his source of income but also strengthened his ability to provide for his family. Today, Mr. Francis is also an active member of the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), where he serves as the group's chairman, demonstrating his commitment to improving both his family's welfare and his community.
For Ayo*, participating in the ASRH programme had a profound impact. As one of the trained Adolescent Champions, he particularly enjoyed learning about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and child abuse.
"I was so interested in the topics on STIs and child abuse during the ASRH sessions." He also expressed his excitement about returning to school. "I was very happy when I was enrolled back in school."
Despite the setbacks he has faced, Ayo remains hopeful about his future.
"One day I will become the President of Nigeria. If I can get assistance to further my education, I will surely achieve my dream."
His older brother, Destiny, also looks forward to a brighter future. "Someday, I will become a renowned footballer."
The integrated support provided through SCI, including community awareness, Safe Families sessions, Adolescence Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) Education, school re-enrolment, scholastic materials, livelihood assistance through CVA, and participation in the VSLA, helped transform a family that once relied on child labour for survival into one where children are back in school, and parents are rebuilding sustainable livelihoods.
