Building self-esteem in children

Lindy’s Gems Foundation, building self-esteem in children

The passion for children propelled Eme Aderinokun, the Chief Executive of Lindy’s Events, into kiddies’ entertainment. Looking back, three years after, she has no regrets. It is not because the numbers have been overtly impressive in the niche segment, but more for translating her vision of working with children into a reality. She has started living her dream for the Nigerian child, irrespective of his or her social status, faith and tribe. This she is doing leveraging two platforms: the kiddies’ arm of Lindy’s Events and the Lindy’s Gems Foundation.

As the Chief Executive Officer of Lindy’s Events, Aderinokun provides bespoke solutions to corporate organizations seeking innovative programmes through which they can entertain and reach out to the Nigerian child. In this regard, Lindy's Event has done well so far, Aderinokun disclosed. “I love children and my long term desire had always been to do things for them. Lindy’s Events started its kiddies arm in 2007.  We opted for corporate clients only to differentiate the brand and to enable us deliver exceptional value to our clients. It has worked for us.”

In dealings with lots of Nigerian children, Aderinokun discovered a fundamental deficiency, which is low self-esteem, in alarming proportion. Intent on tackling this perceived hindrance to the optimal development of the Nigerian child, she founded Lindy’s Gems Foundation. The Foundation’s objective is to instill confidence in the Nigerian child, by encouraging independence and providing them with an enabling platform to succeed at new things. Aderinokun believes that individuals that lack self-confidence lack all.  As such, it becomes difficult for such an individual to attain full potentials. The Foundation aims to reverse this unsavoury trend, using fun filled events within its capacity.

It was for this reason that Gems in the Rough fun day, an annual event initiated by Lindy’s Gems Foundation was born in 2009. Featuring games such as helicopter ride, bumper ride, water games, trampoline net, visual games and face painting, among others, the Foundation uses these fun activities to build the self-esteem of children from the ages of four to 12, especially the less privileged ones from orphanages and special homes. The children from orphanages and special homes, according to Aderinokun, are ‘Gems in the Rough’ surrounded by rare conditions and do not necessarily have access to fun like their peers. 

"Men and women of character are rarely built through just academic work. Extra-curricular activities are essential to the development of children, if they must attain their full potential in life. It is essential to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of children. It enables them discover, experiment, express ideas, learn new skills, use imagination, develop muscles and cooperate with others, among others benefits. We cannot afford to limit children to just education. Even the United Nation Commission for Human Rights recognises play as a right of every child. Every child deserves to play and should not be deprived," she informs.

Aderinokun reiterates that Lindy’s Gems Foundation is striving to fill this gap in the life of the Nigerian child, to ensure that he or she lives a balanced life. “Our programmes are designed on the platform of fun and mentorship to give these special children cherished childhood memories, make them feel loved and think as potential leaders, thereby improving their lives and future.” This, she says, align with her vision of building self-motivated, balanced and confident children across Nigeria and Africa, as a whole using fun as a tool. “We are intent on bridging the gap between the privileged and less privileged children in the society, by giving the latter who are deprived, access to beneficial and quality fun experience to positively fire their imagination and creativity, while also improving their social skills and self-esteem.”

Consequently, Lindy’s Gems Foundation will hold the third edition of its annual fun day for children, especially those from select orphanages in Lagos to address their fun needs. Billed to hold on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at Dolphin Estate Playground, Ikoyi, Lagos by 12noon, the programme is specifically designed to ensure that every child out there, regardless of his or her background; particularly the less privileged children, has some fun that he or she otherwise would not have had.

The fun day will provide less privileged children with a platform to interact, play and display their talents in an environment that is devoid of social segregation. This year’s event incorporates a talent show in categories that include singing, poetry, dance as well as drama, and will feature celebrity judges like Joke Silva, Bimbo Akintola, Kafayatu Shafau, popularly known as Kafy, and Ben Ogbewi.   Winners and runners-up at the talent show will be visit and participate in the Calabar Carnival in December 2011.

Established in 2009, the Foundation, which caters to the fun needs of less privileged children from the ages of 4 to 12, has had two successful outings to its credit. The inaugural event in June 2010, as well as its Nigeria @ 50 celebrations in October 2011, both had 800 children in attendance with about 450 from select orphanages in Lagos. Beneficiaries of this initiative include Amazing Grace, Arrow of God, Bethseda, Chosen Child, Little Saints, Hearts of Gold, Precious Pearls and Light of Hope orphanages. 

The upcoming Gems in the Rough fun day for children is powered by Lindy’s Event and supported by Nutricima, Aero Contractor, GTBank, HiTV, Footprints, IBST Media, Rapport Media, TW Magazine, and HNK Events.