The Eunice Amoka-Bankole Street Dreams Project

About The Eunice Amoka-Bankole Street Dreams Project

Street Dreams leverages the power of art and storytelling to empower young women to lead profitable environmental projects within their communities. The project adopts an eco-feminist theory of change, firmly believing that women’s empowerment and environmental protection are interconnected. All initiatives under the Street Dreams project are designed with dual objectives – to uplift women and sustain the environment.

About The Eunice Amoka-Bankole

The Street Dreams project was renamed in honor of Eunice Amoka-Bankole, our cherished friend, colleague, and former lead of the SustyVibes Women Development Team. Eunice was an unwavering advocate for sustainability and women’s development, earning respect for her gentle yet courageous leadership.

Eunice spearheaded and conceptualized the Street Dreams project in 2017, collaborating with multiple partners and securing funding to bring the inaugural cohort to life. With a unique smile and ever-warm countenance, Eunice instilled excitement in the work with our partners, beneficiaries, and team.

Street Dreams Phase One

Year: 2018

Focus: Photography and Oil Pollution

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Photography serves as a potent tool for environmental awareness and social good. In the first cohort of the Street Dreams project, we trained 10 young, underrepresented women in the Niger Delta in environmental storytelling and supported them with cameras to launch their photography journeys.

Beyond the photography skills, to further support these women, Lensationel also supported the girls with income through sales of their images online. Some photographs from this cohort were showcased at the African Artist Foundation and the Susty Party in 2018.

Partners

Testimonials

Victoria Akere

In 2017 I started taking street pictures randomly after work or on my way to work with my phone and posted them on my Facebook page, one day a friend sent me the fliers of the street dreams project and I got excited and interested. The workshop helped me to understand how people respond to documentaries in different parts of the city, I was conscious of how I tell my stories, and I was bold to approach subjects on consent approval and tell my stories. I saw every place and time as an opportunity to create one.

Tamara-Tonye

I participated in the Street Dreams project because of my passion for photography and my want to create beautiful photographs. I'd say the project gave me a better scope of photography in general and of course, how we could use pictures to create awareness of environmental pollution and its effect on businesses (especially women's businesses) in rural areas. I take better pictures now and I edit all my pictures myself. Plus, I still enjoy nature/environmental photography. My favorite memory is of the photo exhibition that was organized for us in December 2018 because it was a chance to be out there and meet people and it was also the first time my photographs were officially viewed and auctioned.

Street Dreams Phase Two

Year: 2023

Focus: Upcycling and Plastic Pollution

Location: Ondo State

In the second phase of the Street Dreams Project, our objective was to combat litter and throw-away culture by training 50 rural women and girls in Ondo State on waste-to-wealth upcycling skills.

We began with an advocacy outreach to Imafon and neighboring communities, collaborating with community leaders. We also constructed the Eunice Amoka Bankole Street Dreams Project Upcycling and Weaving Training Center, equipped with floor lap looms, small lap looms, sewing machines, weaving threads, scissors, and tape rules. This space will be continuously utilized by community women and for future upcycling workshops.

Partners

Testimonials

Agnes - Fashion designer at Durian Village, Imafon

I was surprised that we could make a bag from waste nylon. I would like to thank the team for the opportunity to learn, I learned a lot and I will be able to train others.

Prisca - Community Member and Mother of 3

Participating in this training has been a thing of joy for me. It was during these sessions that I realized waste nylon is not truly waste; the very material we discarded has been repurposed to create bags and purses. I am pleased because now I can pass on this craft to my children and others in my community who are interested in learning, enabling them to produce useful products