Here is one young Nigerian who is very passionate about charity and social innovation.
Chaste Inegbedion is a community relations specialist in the areas of social innovations and Non-Profit Management Services. He is the Managing Partner of Creative Five World with change products comprising the Charity Lounge and the Innovation Apartment Africa. In 2012, Chaste inspired the Save Pwashikai Nideno Campaign- The historic Road to Recovery of a Five-Year Old mutilated girl who refused to die in dung village in Adamawa State. Also in 2013, he was recognized and awarded by the Universal Peace Federation (An NGO with special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council) as a United Nations Young Ambassador for Peace.
In this exclusive interview with GreenBiro Editor Adeola Adeyemo, he shares his inspiring journey and quest to bring succor to many through his charity projects.
What inspired the Charity Lounge Initiative?
Way back in 2008 when I lost my Dad, I started the foundation called the Brown Heart where I was raising awareness about heart related diseases because that was what killed him at that time. From that it grew into a case of us visiting charity homes, going to the S. O. S, getting items from people and giving back. I also did a lot of social work throughout my service year and was a facilitator of the Millennium Development Goals. It started building up from there. Basically community service and humanitarian work was a calling from God.
Way back in 2008 when I lost my Dad, I started the foundation called the Brown Heart where I was raising awareness about heart related diseases because that was what killed him at that time. From that it grew into a case of us visiting charity homes, going to the S. O. S, getting items from people and giving back. I also did a lot of social work throughout my service year and was a facilitator of the Millennium Development Goals. It started building up from there. Basically community service and humanitarian work was a calling from God.
You host a regular event called Charity Lounge. Tell us what its all about.
It’s a re-incarnation of what we did way back when I was in Yola during my service year. We picked up the case of a young girl who was mutilated on her private part and started raising awareness about her, trying to campaign for some funds to be able to help her. We always create this platform whereby people will see it as a fun avenue where they can still give back to their community; something we tagged ‘put the fun in fundraising’. At the event you can network, have fun with lots of food, drinks and music. It’s a quarterly event but depending on the month, we tag it with a theme such as ‘cancer month’, etc.
It’s a re-incarnation of what we did way back when I was in Yola during my service year. We picked up the case of a young girl who was mutilated on her private part and started raising awareness about her, trying to campaign for some funds to be able to help her. We always create this platform whereby people will see it as a fun avenue where they can still give back to their community; something we tagged ‘put the fun in fundraising’. At the event you can network, have fun with lots of food, drinks and music. It’s a quarterly event but depending on the month, we tag it with a theme such as ‘cancer month’, etc.
Does your interest in charity have anything to do with your background?
I think it came as a result of my Dad’s death. It was also religious in a way, ‘giving and receiving’, and meeting people at their point of need. There’s also a part in the scripture that says love thy neighbor as thyself, if not more. That was the inspiration for me, doing humanitarian services.
I think it came as a result of my Dad’s death. It was also religious in a way, ‘giving and receiving’, and meeting people at their point of need. There’s also a part in the scripture that says love thy neighbor as thyself, if not more. That was the inspiration for me, doing humanitarian services.
What motivates you?
I am motivated by a passion to help save lives and contribute to poverty alleviation.
I am motivated by a passion to help save lives and contribute to poverty alleviation.
I understand Charity Lounge has different focal areas. What are they?
We have different segments of Charity Lounge including the Cancel Cancer Campaign- raising awareness through alternative therapy for people to see the essentials of being cancer free;Charity Begins At Home – our major project, to see that we secure sponsorship for charity homes; Elite Humanitarian Hall of Fame- to see that we recognize people who contribute to community service, organizations, public spirited individuals who can serve as role models in community service and the last one is the parent body which is Creative Five World- it handles the business side of it, serves as the sponsor agent, the event body that coordinates the event and get partners.
We have different segments of Charity Lounge including the Cancel Cancer Campaign- raising awareness through alternative therapy for people to see the essentials of being cancer free;Charity Begins At Home – our major project, to see that we secure sponsorship for charity homes; Elite Humanitarian Hall of Fame- to see that we recognize people who contribute to community service, organizations, public spirited individuals who can serve as role models in community service and the last one is the parent body which is Creative Five World- it handles the business side of it, serves as the sponsor agent, the event body that coordinates the event and get partners.
You held the first quarter of Charity Lounge in 2012. What milestones have you achieved between the first and the sixth event?
We have been able to raise the ante, we have been able to inform people about what we are into. We held the first event in a Charity Home. We were able to induct Michael Collins, Mavin Records boss; Tosyn Bucknor, an On-Air personality; and Ronke Apampa, former U.K black variety show presenter and a well renowned model. It was in line with the theme, three charities, and three inductees. The second one was held on the International Childrens Day at the Pacelli School of the Blind and the Wesley School of the hearing Impaired. We added some colour to the third one and tagged it ‘Orange Reception’ in line with Autism Awareness and promotion of the film Silver Lining. We also recognized humanitarian projects and initiatives such as Lamboginny Say No to Crime, Bake For Change, Save Laura Campaign, and the Future Project. It was our way of saying they did a great job and encouraging people to emulate from what they have done. The fourth to the sixth editions was well received and we are grateful to our supporters.
We have been able to raise the ante, we have been able to inform people about what we are into. We held the first event in a Charity Home. We were able to induct Michael Collins, Mavin Records boss; Tosyn Bucknor, an On-Air personality; and Ronke Apampa, former U.K black variety show presenter and a well renowned model. It was in line with the theme, three charities, and three inductees. The second one was held on the International Childrens Day at the Pacelli School of the Blind and the Wesley School of the hearing Impaired. We added some colour to the third one and tagged it ‘Orange Reception’ in line with Autism Awareness and promotion of the film Silver Lining. We also recognized humanitarian projects and initiatives such as Lamboginny Say No to Crime, Bake For Change, Save Laura Campaign, and the Future Project. It was our way of saying they did a great job and encouraging people to emulate from what they have done. The fourth to the sixth editions was well received and we are grateful to our supporters.
What inspires your choice of Inductees?
Their hard work and contribution to their society, their recommendations from people. BellaNaija does a lot in that regard. They have something they call the Inspired page where we see references of people, brands or initiatives targeted at humanitarian services. Gbenga Awomodu does a personality profile of people who do community work and things that make them stand out.
Their hard work and contribution to their society, their recommendations from people. BellaNaija does a lot in that regard. They have something they call the Inspired page where we see references of people, brands or initiatives targeted at humanitarian services. Gbenga Awomodu does a personality profile of people who do community work and things that make them stand out.
What are the challenges of this initiative?
The challenges are always enormous and cannot be overemphasized. The case of merging your own personal work and doing charity is one, another is making sure your team understands the impact and making sure they can give their all in all, donate their talent, time and treasure. You cannot forget the almighty ‘Mr. Finance’ which is the backbone of running any successful campaign. Our major challenge is in the line of orientation, people need to be educated on the subject matter that ‘Giving Back is Serious Business’, also people using the opportunity of making fame through charitable visitation is another road to conquer.
The challenges are always enormous and cannot be overemphasized. The case of merging your own personal work and doing charity is one, another is making sure your team understands the impact and making sure they can give their all in all, donate their talent, time and treasure. You cannot forget the almighty ‘Mr. Finance’ which is the backbone of running any successful campaign. Our major challenge is in the line of orientation, people need to be educated on the subject matter that ‘Giving Back is Serious Business’, also people using the opportunity of making fame through charitable visitation is another road to conquer.
Getting funding for charity initiatives is often a challenge. How has the response of the sponsors been to your projects?
It has been remarkable, but our sincere gratitude goes more to the individuals than the brands. We’ve been banking on family, friends, fellow Non-Profit organisations we can work with. Our super volunteers and great personalities like Halima Abubakar in the past two editions have helped out with logistics, the likes of Don Jazzy gave Life to the first edition, Chocolate City boss, Audu Maikori, Zapphaire Event MD, Funke Obruthe, Patrick Language & Speech Founder, Dotun Akande, Alleluia Akpobome , Scriptures with Debby Host, Debbie Akwara, wife of renowned comedian Ibiere Agwu and many others have ‘put their money where their mouth is’. We also have a lot of organizations, but we believe they could do more, like Promasidor, Unilever and Fan Milk who have donated products in the past and many more public spirited individuals and institutions.
It has been remarkable, but our sincere gratitude goes more to the individuals than the brands. We’ve been banking on family, friends, fellow Non-Profit organisations we can work with. Our super volunteers and great personalities like Halima Abubakar in the past two editions have helped out with logistics, the likes of Don Jazzy gave Life to the first edition, Chocolate City boss, Audu Maikori, Zapphaire Event MD, Funke Obruthe, Patrick Language & Speech Founder, Dotun Akande, Alleluia Akpobome , Scriptures with Debby Host, Debbie Akwara, wife of renowned comedian Ibiere Agwu and many others have ‘put their money where their mouth is’. We also have a lot of organizations, but we believe they could do more, like Promasidor, Unilever and Fan Milk who have donated products in the past and many more public spirited individuals and institutions.
Chaste Inegbedion & Halima Abubakar
Where do you see Charity Lounge in the next 5 years?
The vision is enormous! We should be able to alleviate the plight of charity homes in a way that we would engage the awareness of people to see the good in giving back. We want to follow up some of the people we inducted up in the past on social services and get more people to provide their services for our fundraising activities. We want to see that those people who are serving as charity heroes should inculcate in the hearts of their friends that such causes should be followed. We want to see our Innovation Apartment, as a one-stop solution space for social entrepreneurs and as an avenue where people can come with their social innovations to pull up funds and publicity.
The vision is enormous! We should be able to alleviate the plight of charity homes in a way that we would engage the awareness of people to see the good in giving back. We want to follow up some of the people we inducted up in the past on social services and get more people to provide their services for our fundraising activities. We want to see that those people who are serving as charity heroes should inculcate in the hearts of their friends that such causes should be followed. We want to see our Innovation Apartment, as a one-stop solution space for social entrepreneurs and as an avenue where people can come with their social innovations to pull up funds and publicity.
Before you go, can you recall any sad experience you’ve had with any of your charity projects?
The rejection I sometimes get when seeking for funds and also a time when we were defrauded of our donation while trying to acquire an apartment for the Solution Space.
The rejection I sometimes get when seeking for funds and also a time when we were defrauded of our donation while trying to acquire an apartment for the Solution Space.
On a brighter note, what is your most memorable day on the project?
We made an impromptu pitch at the W.O.W. D.I.V.A.S X-Factor Conference for the Innovation Apartment Africa and we got a donation for our pilot project. We really appreciate this wonderful gesture
We made an impromptu pitch at the W.O.W. D.I.V.A.S X-Factor Conference for the Innovation Apartment Africa and we got a donation for our pilot project. We really appreciate this wonderful gesture
2 comments:
Continue the work of charity. Keep the flag flying
May God continue to strengthen you to keep up the good work
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