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Sire & Felix's Story
At age 9, Bintougbe met a girl named Sire while attending “La Renaissance” primary school in Guinea-Conakry. Sire was a 13yr-old girl who sold snacks at Bintougbe’s school. They became good friends, but a few months later Bintougbe moved to a different school. A year later, while visiting her old school, she runs into Sire who was excited to meet her old friend.
After series of conversation, Sire decided to relocate and sell her snacks at Bintougbe’s new school, which was 20 miles away from her home. During lunch, Bintougbe would leave the school premises to spend time with Sire. One day, Bintougbe curiously asked Sire why she was not in school since she liked reading her school books. Sire responded that her parents could not afford to send her to school and her father thinks there is no need for girls to be educated anyways.
This conversation with Sire changed Bintougbe’s entire life. As a kid oblivious of what it takes to educate anyone, she promised to pay for Sire’s education when she grew up and became rich. A few years later, Bintougbe moved to the US with her parents to continue her education. She has never forgotten that promise to Sire, even though they had lost contact. This has been one of her sources of inspiration.
Bintougbe had a chance to visit Nigeria on humanitarian grounds several years later, and she had the opportunity of meeting a young boy named Felix Emmanuel. Their first encounter happened at a mechanic shop, where she went with some friends to get their car fixed. She noticed a young boy walking around barefoot in an environment he could easily be injured by sharp objects and possibly contact tetanus, and she wondered why a young boy like him is roaming about and not in school.
On getting to talk to him, she found out that Felix was only 10 years old, and he’s got no shoes on because he had a condition known as Polydactylism (being born with extra toes or fingers) hence regular shoes don’t fit him. He also wasn’t in school because his parents couldn’t afford it.
Bintougbe was touched by his story, and paid someone to customize a shoe for Felix, with a promise that she’ll find a way to help his situation. Despite her being a student in college, who was only 21 years old and trying to figure out her own life, she was still willing to help out the little 10 years old boy however she could.
A year later, Bintougbe returned to Nigeria on Christmas to visit Felix and his family. She brought him some school supplies, clothes, provisions, and also paid his tuition for a whole year. The bond she shared with Sire and Felix, motivated her into dedicating more time and effort to help out with more causes like this. There are a lot of kids out there like Felix and Sire who needs help.
Bintougbe has lost contact with Sire, however, is she is still in contact with Felix and helps out as much as she can. During their last discussion, he informed her that he wants to attend an apprentice school to become a mechanical engineer. She is doing everything possible to see how she can sponsor that.
Bintougbe’s goal currently is to raise global awareness and support to help children in need, such as Sire & Felix.She has been helping on her own since 2011, from pay-check to pay-check. She has helped in paying school fees, and rent, setting up small-scale businesses for parents so they could cater to their family’s needs, and more.