How to run a school supplies drive

What is Streets to School?

SOVCI Streets to School is our project to keep poor and vulnerable children in education. It works on two fronts: helping out-of-school children to enrol, and making sure that pupils from poor homes who are already in school do not drop out for lack of support (PM News, January 2024 (opens in a new tab)). On our first website we described it as a way to equip children with the educational support, skills and confidence they need to build a brighter future.

On the International Day of Education 2024, SOVCI and the Faculty of Education of Lagos State University (LASU) gave school kits to pupils of public primary and secondary schools in Iba Local Council Development Area, Ojo. Our founder used the occasion to raise concern about the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, which he put at more than 20 million (PM News (opens in a new tab)).

Here is how you can run a similar drive with your school, church, mosque, company or student group. The steps are practical advice drawn from how we work; adapt them to your community.

Step 1 — Find a school partner first

Do not collect first and look for pupils later. Speak to the head teacher of a public school, or work through an established organisation, and agree three things: how many pupils will receive a kit, which classes, and what the school says pupils lack most. Our 2024 drive was organised with a university faculty and delivered to public schools in one area, which kept it focused (PM News (opens in a new tab)).

Step 2 — Agree one kit list

Every pupil should receive the same kit, so that no child feels singled out. Ask the school for its list and fill in a simple table like this one.

Totals make it easy to ask donors for specific items (“we still need 40 school bags”) instead of a general appeal.

Step 3 — Choose a date with meaning

A day that already has public attention helps you reach donors and the press. SOVCI chose the International Day of Education, which the United Nations marks every year on 24 January (United Nations (opens in a new tab)). Children’s Day on 27 May is another moment when Nigerians think about children’s futures. Our guide to key dates for children in Nigeria lists the others.

Step 4 — Collect, count and keep records

• Set one collection point and a closing date that leaves at least a week before the handover for sorting.
• Keep a running tally against your table, so you can see what is still missing.
• If people give money instead of items, record every gift and keep the receipts for what you buy.
• Tell donors exactly where and when to drop items, and who to contact.

Step 5 — Sort and pack

Pack one bag or envelope per pupil with identical contents. Label bags by class, as agreed with the school, not with children’s names on the outside. Keep a few spare kits for pupils the school may add at the last minute.

Step 6 — Hand over through the school, with dignity

Let the school decide which pupils receive kits and how they are given out. Avoid asking children to pose with donations. SOVCI does not publish photos of children’s faces on its website, to protect their privacy and dignity; if you need pictures for donors, photograph the packed kits, the volunteers or the venue instead.

Step 7 — Say thank you and report back

Tell your donors how many kits reached how many pupils, and thank them by name if they agree. SOVCI publicly thanked the companies and individuals who supported its 2023 Children’s Day (BusinessDay, June 2023 (opens in a new tab)). A clear report makes the next drive easier.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Collecting items the school did not ask for, which then sit unused.
• Giving some pupils more than others, or handing kits out on the street instead of through the school.
• Photographing children receiving gifts, or posting their faces online.
• Promising a school more kits than you have collected — confirm numbers only when the packing is done.

A simple timeline

“They are made for more, and they will work towards achieving that.”