NGOs empower indegent pupils with fees, writing materials
Two Non Governmental Organizations, United Way Greater Nigeria (UWGN) and Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI) have jointly donated writing materials to 100 pupils of Government Primary School Ekpri Ikang Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.
The NGOs, with funding from Cleveland Browns Foundation, also paid school fees for 20 indegent pupils of the school to in commemoration of the 2022 International Year of the African Child.
Speaking at the event, with the theme: “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practices Since 2013”, the Executive Director of UWGN, Mrs Deola Durodola, said the International Day for African Child was a day set aside to celebrate indigenous children of African descent.
“As an NGO that is passionate about the social and educational welfare of children, we have come up with the “Empowering Children and Communities Against Violence and Abuse (ECCVA) Project” to draw attention and as well find solutions to issues that hinder children from harnessing their full potentials in their communities,” she said.
She added that the project was to empower communities, children and to create necessary awareness about violence, child abuse and the utilisation of reporting channels that are available to them and to also build those structures where none is available.
The director said that, it was the responsibility of every parent to raise their children in a responsible way.
“That is why we try as much as possible to engage everyone in this conversation to ensure that children, especially the girl child is safeguarded and have access to quality education.
“We also understand that this is Bakassi and it’s really close to the border and because of that, there are lots of activities such as migration, trafficking and child labour involving children.
“We want to protect these children from violence and exploitation, ” she said.
She disclosed that though, the organization exist in over 1,800 communities in 40 countries across the world, “we are always taking part in events that celebrate the African children and women.”
According to her; this event coincides with the United Way Day of Action.
“At United Way Greater Nigeria, for this year’s commemoration, we are drumming up support from community members, governments, stakeholders, policy makers, religious and traditional leaders to channel their efforts towards addressing issues affecting women and children in the society, ” she said.
In the same vein, the Programme Manager of UWGN, Mrs Mary Owan, said that commemorating the International Day for the African Child will afford the children the opportunity to know their rights and what constitute child abuse.
“Having worked in Ekpri Ikang community, it was discovered that most female children are out of school while some are plagued with early pregnancy.
“We are working with the teachers and parents to see how we can create awareness on why female children should return to school and as well as provide them with the necessary support, ” she said.
The resource person, Mrs Grace Obi, decried the steady rise in the number of out-of-school children which she blamed on COVID-19 conditionalities, increasing cost of living, parental factor, among others.
She said that if urgent steps were not taken to reverse the trend, the army of out-of-school children roaming the streets aimlessly in the area would soon constitute themselves into a major societal menace capable of upturning peace and tranquility in the community.
Speaking, the Deputy Head Teacher of the school, Mrs Rosemary Ime, thanked the NGOs and their sponsors for choosing the school to commemorate the International Day of the African Child for 2022.
She said the event had exposed the pupils, teachers and staff to contemporary issues affecting women and children in their environment which hitherto they were not aware of them.
She added that the programme which is the first of its kind in the school will equip the teachers with additional knowledge and skills on how to effectively handle and report cases of violence and child abuse.
