Give Orphans/Street Kids Home & Education for Life

The number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Nigeria is estimated at 17.5 million, out of which 7.3 million are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Report has shown that a large number of these vulnerable children roam the town and rural communities of Owerri in the South eastern Nigeria. Families in these areas are devastated by extreme poverty, malaria and HIV/AIDS. The number of vulnerable children has increased dramatically as series of conflicts and bombings in the Northern Nigeria displaced several women and children. Consequently, many uprooted families have resettled in Owerri seeking for urgent assistance.

These children suffer immensely in their deplorable condition as they face a number of challenges, such as looking for money for school fees, food, clothing, shelter, clean water and access to basic healthcare. Several are homeless, no family to give them love, no formal/informal education and no future. Their desperation makes them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, ultimately making them more susceptible to contracting HIV and other killer diseases.

Our goal is to provide a home/orphanage, vocational education and basic healthcare/psychosocial support to 300 vulnerable children in Owerri and its rural communities to end generational cycles of poverty and disease. The project will provide a foundation for sustainable development as well as skills necessary to adopt healthy lifestyles, and protect themselves from HIV/AIDS. We also intend to establish family strengthening programs to prevent family break-up, poverty and killer diseases that often result in children being abandoned or neglected.

A key component of the orphanage/home is a vocational training building where the kids will be taught local crafts, trades, farming and music in hopes of providing them with a livelihood for the future. The project will enable us provide a long-lasting protection by responding quickly to violence, exploitation and abuse against children including commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labour which vulnerable children are susceptible to in their dilapidated environment. The project will be coordinated by 6 staff from our organization who have many years experience working with disadvantaged children in Africa. The centre will be a house not only for the current generation of children, but also for the next generation of children.

We believe that adequate housing and provision of necessary vocational skills to these children are critical in achieving self-reliance and livelihood security. Your financial assistance will enable us implement this viable project that will save the lives of innocent African children. Weiterlesen