On December 21, 2024, the Igbo-Elejo community, popularly known as Snake-Island, bubbled with excitement as Spaces for Change | S4C, in partnership with the Communities Alliance Against Displacement (CAD), hosted the annual Christmas party for children living in the informal settlements. Over 120 children joined in the day of learning, fun, and Christmas celebration. Igbo-Elejo community, a marginalized riverine settlement in Lagos, faces numerous challenges, including poor access to water, sanitation, education, and vulnerability to displacement. Despite its rich cultural heritage and resilience, the community has long struggled with neglect, leaving residents to rely on fishing and small-scale trade for survival. The lack of basic amenities, including schools and healthcare facilities, continues to limit opportunities for growth and development.
The Christmas party wasn’t just a celebration, but an opportunity to educate children about housing rights, urban justice, and the importance of advocating for their communities. Using simple language and relatable examples, S4C facilitators explained how every child deserves a safe home, access to schools, and protection from displacement. These lessons were delivered through games, quizzes, and group discussions that kept the children entertained while sparking their curiosity. To reinforce the lessons, the children participated in role-playing activities where they acted as community leaders, planners, and advocates, allowing them to visualize their roles in shaping a better future for their neighbourhoods. The games emphasized teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills, ensuring the children not only learned but also had fun.
As part of its commitment toward supporting the education of children living in informal communities, S4C and CAD distributed school bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, and rulers to help the children prepare for the next school term. This gesture underscored the organization’s dedication to promoting education as a tool for empowerment and long-term development. This Christmas party was just one of the many sustained efforts by S4C and CAD to improve conditions in Igbo-Elejo. In 2018, the organizations successfully advocated for the renovation of the only primary school in the community, ensuring children had access to better learning facilities. Since then, they have continued to push for the construction of a secondary school to prevent students from travelling long distances to Apapa or Ajegunle, which often incurs high transportation costs, exposes them to the risk of boat mishaps, or forces them to discontinue their education altogether. Parents and community members also joined the event, showing their support and enthusiasm for the initiative.
The event concluded with group activities that fostered unity and a sense of belonging, leaving the children excited and motivated for the future. The annual Christmas party at Igbo-Elejo highlighted the importance of combining fun with education to inspire and empower the next generation. Through this event, S4C and CAD reinforced their mandate to protect housing rights, promote urban justice, and build resilient communities, leaving a lasting impact on the children and families of Igbo-Elejo.