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Changing Lives

One at a Time

One at a Time

LOVATT FOUNDATION .ORG

LovattFoundation.Org, led by Fiona Lovatt, is an international collaboration among ordinary people who want to make a difference – with love and without receiving payment for their time or effort.

Through Fiona, a New Zealand educator and poet, the foundation delivers small-scale projects that aim to change lives, one at a time. She began the foundation from a simple Northern Nigerian base in Kano, a 1000 year old city. For the five years she lived in a co-operative with young almajirai (students) responding to the needs of those who live on $1 per day (or less).

Fiona’s personal possessions fit into one suitcase. Without an office or vehicle the circle of friends who join in from afar are assured that every dollar they contribute serves the intended purpose. Trees, literacy, boreholes, displaced people, vulnerable children, widows, patients,… Fiona has served communities across a decade and five states in Nigeria.
More here: http://wellywoodwoman.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/kano-life.html

Just some of our Supporters

Sponsor: Dr. Isa Muhammad Jiddah Alfadlah (Nigeria)Volunteer: Susan Henshaw (Vegas, USA)Supporter: Initiative for Community Welfare & CareVolunteer: Marian Evans (New Zealand)Supporter: Marawe SolutionsVolunteer: Kelly Harris (Australia)Volunteer: Saeed Kirki (Hungary)Supporter: MangoesToShare.Org (Florida, USA)Volunteer: Ed Keazor (Nigeria)Sponsor: ocho.works (UK)Supporter: Jack Vincent Fidelis Jr (Nigeria)Supporter: Sidro Synergies Ltd (Hungary)Volunteer: Abubakar Gambo (Nigeria)Supporters: Sunshine International SchoolVolunteer: Aliyu A. Wali (Nigeria)Volunteer: Chaela Hall (UK)Sponsor: Cerebo Systems (Nigeria)Volunteer: Ahmed Abubakar (Nigeria)Volunteer: Caroline Idehen (USA)Supporter: Maternova (Canada)Supporter: Dave Moskovitz (New Zealand)Supporter: Kereshmeh and Akin Odulate (North Carolina, USA)Sponsor: Dawning Systems (Charlotte, USA)Supporter: Mr and Mrs Rayner (UK)Supporter: Fun House Pre-School (Nigeria)Supporter: Mr Counts (Oklahoma, USA)Supporter: EMRTS (Edmond, USA)Supporter: Joseph Williams (UK)Volunteer: Barbara Bergin (UK)Supporter: November (Australia)Supporter: Lorna Brown (UK)Supporter: The Salam Project (UK)Anna Milaeva (Miami, USA)Callum Bowen (Australia)Dafe Otite (UK)WHSmith Wood Green Branch (London, UK)Rachel A. Onamusi (UK)Viva Naija Radio (UK)Dr. F. Adebajo (UK)Umar Saleh Gwani (Bauchi, Nigeria)Canty's Bookshop (Canberra, Australia)Serhat Maras (London, UK)Alexandra (Wellington, New Zealand)Modulaire Inc (Oklahoma, US)Fatsuma Magaji (Kaduna, Nigeria)Dr. Gabrielle Abia Biteo-Talon (London, UK)Love Tilly Billy (London, UK)Hussaina Imam (Kano, Nigeria)Jasmine (South Korea)Fun Tree Books (Texas, US)Dieter Suess (Kempten, Germany)Golden Penny Foods (Nigeria)Len Bowen (Canberra, Australia)Avril Hume (Canberra, Australia)Jane Oswald Easley (Philadelphia, US)Citizens Advice (London Enfield, UK)Emina Cerimovic (Brooklyn, NY, USA)Dallas (Australia)Oyedepo Joseph (Nigeria)Tasneem AzizKate Palframan and Family (UK)Gordana Grbesa and Family (UK)

that have contributed to

Orphans Supported

IDP Assistance

Micro Businesses

Boreholes Repaired

Surgeries Funded

Almajiri Scholarships

Trees Planted

Books Donated

ABOUT

and founder Fiona Lovatt

Activism is my
rent for living on
the planet.

alice walker
Fiona Lovatt photo by Evangeline Davis

Activism is my
rent for living on
the planet.

alice walker
Fiona Lovatt photo by Evangeline Davis

A suitcase, an internet connection, and correspondence with fantastic friends around the world are all that I travel with.

I’m Fiona Lovatt. I am a New Zealand poet and teacher who has been based in northern Nigeria since 2011.

Lovatt Foundation .Org became the umbrella for a group of small-scale Nigerian community projects, an online base for our current supporters around the world and those who would like to get involved to get updates on projects, collaborate, seek advice for their own projects, or donate to ours.

Kano wall

How it began

A timid traveller and humanitarian, I initially picked a destination that had to be in the English-speaking world, in need of an experienced educator or even a pair of hands and, most of all, to be behind the media headlines of crisis and carnage because I, like so many others, wondered, “What can I do?”.

Kano became my home away from New Zealand. As I made use of the page on Facebook to share the stories and realities of life among the talakawa (the masses) in northern Nigeria friends were moved by the scenarios. They joined me in their own quiet ways, delighted that funds and ideas could go so far and that 100% of what is received is used for the purpose named by the donor. Our engagement has spread across Kano, Jigawa, Niger and Borno states with much of our work currently centred in Maiduguri where the greatest impact of Boko Haram has been felt.

Bore hole repairs

PHONE

Please email Fiona to arrange a call due to intermittent signal and service.