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Sometimes, preparing to make a difference begins with the willingness to learn from those already doing meaningful work.
As Road to School Foundation prepares to launch its pilot project in Agbara, Ogun State, we are reminded that meaningful change begins long before a project opens its doors. It begins with asking the right questions, learning from experience, building the right foundations, and remaining open to new ideas.
It was with this mindset that we visited Smartan House in Ikorodu, Lagos, on February 28, 2026. We went to exchange ideas, observe practical approaches, and gain insights that could help shape our preparations for Agbara. We wanted to learn from the experience of others and consider how those lessons might inform the learning opportunities we hope to create for children in our community.
What we encountered at Smartan House gave us much to reflect on—not only about developing programmes, but also about leadership and what becomes possible when young people are given the opportunity to grow.

A Welcome That Reflected a Culture of Leadership

From the moment our team arrived at Smartan House, we were greeted by the resounding, energetic cheers of its young team. Their welcome was warm and lively, immediately setting the tone for a memorable experience. But beyond the excitement of the reception, it was the young people themselves who left the strongest impression. We encountered young people taking ownership of their work—leading areas of responsibility, developing projects and products, writing, creating, inventing, and driving initiatives. Each appeared to have a space in which they could contribute ideas, exercise leadership, and turn their abilities into something tangible.
What stood out was the sense of initiative behind their engagement. These were not simply young people waiting for instructions; they were actively involved in building, creating, and leading.
As we observed this, we found ourselves reflecting on an important question:

What becomes possible when young people are given the guidance, trust, responsibility, and opportunity to develop their potential?

It is a question worth carrying back to Agbara as we prepare our own pilot project. Beyond helping children access education and strengthen their foundational learning skills, we want to create opportunities for them to discover their abilities, grow in confidence, and develop the capacity to shape their own futures.

The Power of a Mentor Who Invests in People

One of the strongest impressions from our visit was the depth of Uncle Abbaly’s investment in the young people around him. He had not held back his knowledge or experience from those he mentors. Rather, he seemed to have poured himself into their development, allowing them room to learn, create, lead, and contribute in their own ways.
For Road to School Foundation, this was a valuable lesson to carry into our preparations for the Agbara project. While our immediate focus is expanding educational opportunities for children and strengthening foundational learning skills, we recognise that the success of the project will depend on more than opening its doors. It will also depend on the quality of its programmes, the people who deliver them, the systems that support its operations, and its ability to respond to the needs of the communities it serves.
The visit reinforced a lesson worth carrying forward: meaningful development is not only about providing opportunities to learn. It is also about helping people develop the confidence, skills, and initiative to put what they learn into practice.
As the saying attributed to Isaac Newton reminds us, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” For me, this captures the value of mentorship: the opportunity to learn from those whose experience helps us see beyond our present limitations and prepare more thoughtfully for the work ahead.
We are grateful to Uncle Abbaly and the Smartan House team for welcoming us and sharing their experience. Their willingness to engage with us reinforces the value of knowledge-sharing and collaboration among organisations working towards a better future for the next generation.

From Ikorodu to Agbara, the journey is one of learning, preparation, and purpose—with a clear goal: to turn what we learn today into better opportunities for the children we serve tomorrow.

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