Nigerian teenager Folake Dosu, of Bellwood, Illinois, is among the 27 most extraordinary young people in America who made the Honors List of the Nestle Very Best In Youth Award Program. Folake Dosu and the others were recognized for being committed to academic excellence and devoted to leading a generation of positive change within their communities.
Folake Dosu is the founder and Executive Director of the Birthday Party Project.
The Birthday Party Project throws monthly surprise birthday parties for disadvantaged children who are going through difficult times in their young lives. The project addresses such critical facts of life as transitional living, domestic strife, financial hardship, recent death/incarceration of a parent, HIV/AIDS, foster care, etc; and Folake reaches out to them "to celebrate their birthdays and their lives."Â
Folake said the inspiration for her life-changing mentoring initiative came at a turning point in her young life when she ;lost her father.
"A surprise 11th birthday party my classmates threw for me at Ben and Jerry's. It was especially poignant as it followed the death of my father, who died of colon cancer in 1998. It was a beautiful day in May and I remember coming home with a great, big smile on my face. I want to give this joy to those who need it."Â
Folake Dosu's Birthday Party Project has made positive impact on hundreds of children and adults in Chicago and from the venture seed grant of $1, 000 (one thousand dollars), she has raised several thousands more to increase the budget of her proactive project for the benefit of the less privileged children in her community and the rest of America.
