Lagos is a city that moves at lightning speed. Between work deadlines, school runs, church activities, family responsibilities, and that never-ending traffic, it feels like there’s barely enough time to breathe — let alone volunteer.
I get it.
I’m a wife, mum, professional and side hustler. My days are packed, and sometimes I wonder how I even manage to fit it all in. But over 5 years ago, I discovered something: you can make time to volunteer, no matter how busy you are, and it can change lives in ways you can’t imagine.
My journey with Sponsor A Child Through School (SACTS) started small. I wasn’t donating huge sums or clearing out my weekends. I simply volunteered my skills, things I was already good at, to help their programs run better. That little step led to sponsoring one child’s education, then donating a percentage of the proceeds from my book – Therapy In Traffic and Other Stories, and making myself available for their activities whenever I could.
Today, I look back and see how these “little drops” have helped transform the lives of orphans and less privileged children. Children who, without support, might never have stepped into a classroom.
Here’s the thing: many children out there don’t have anyone looking out for them. No one to fight for their education. No one to tell them they can be more. And while the need may feel overwhelming, you don’t have to do everything, you just have to do something.
But how can a busy woman like me make time to volunteer?
1. Start with what you already have: Are you great at teaching, organizing events, social media, or mentoring? Offer those skills to an organization in need.
2. Set realistic time commitments: You don’t have to be there every day. Even an hour or two a month can make a huge difference.
3. Get the family involved: Volunteering together not only doubles your impact but also teaches your children compassion and service.
4. Think beyond money: Yes, financial support matters, but so does your time, network, encouragement, and presence.
5. Pick a cause you truly care about: For me, it’s children and education, so every effort feels deeply personal and rewarding.
Why it matters
When you invest your time, skills, or resources, you’re planting seeds of hope. You’re telling a child, “You matter. Your future matters.” And trust me, that’s something they never forget.
If you’ve been thinking about giving back but keep putting it off because “life is too busy,” here’s your nudge: start small, start now. It doesn’t have to be perfect or grand. Just one little drop of kindness today can ripple into a lifetime of change for someone else.
If you’d like to learn more about the work SACTS is doing for children in Nigeria, visit www.sactsng.org
Lagos will always be busy. But in the middle of the chaos, there’s always room for compassion.
