Group Donates Empowerment Tools To Older Vulnerable Children

In a bid to assist in alleviating poverty in the lives of Older Vulnerable Children (OVC), Society for Life Changers and Good Parental Care (SoLife) engaged in community based empowerment to impact the community as well provide adequate social and economic services for Vulnerable Children and to equip older vulnerable Children (OVC), with vocational skills of their choice with which they were later supported with start-up equipment.

The project which was in collaboration with United States Ambassadors Small Grant Program (ASG) empowered thirty older youths with equipment worth millions of naira, in skills such Tailoring and Fashion Designing, Motorcycle Mechanic, Plumbing and Tyler work, Hairdressing and Hair Barbing Work, Welding and Fabrication among others, organized by the Board of Trustee Chairman of SoLife, Mr Aremu Stephens, held at O.D.U Event Hall, Offa Kwara State.

Mr Aremu Stephens at the programme stated that the older vulnerable Children who were selected to give Improved economic wellbeing of OVC in Offa community, Kwara State through the establishment of sustainable income generating activities (ECOWEL) funded by PEPFAR under U.S Ambassador Small Grants Program (ASG) were considered because of the challenges faced by Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the state.

He added that it is widely recognized that children in this category have increased resilience to bear shocks and hardship when they are surrounded by people who love, care and protect them, that the sense of belonging the children achieve through such relationships and hope for a positive nurtured future, enable them to cope with suffering.

Aremu stated that HIV/AIDS made many children orphans and vulnerable to face lots of sufferings and massive challenges for lack of utilization of the existing framework that favors their protection and promotion of rights, health, and social wellbeing as Vulnerable Children, adding that Psycho-social support and programmes are needed for the numbers of affected children who lacked care, or who doesn’t have sufficient help for them to cope with stress or trauma in challenges, a case SoLife took it upon itself to add good value to the lives of these group in the society.

The SoLife BOT Chairman congratulated the grandaunts and beneficiaries and urged them not to rest on their oars with the skill acquired, to gain more knowledge as well as upgrade on trends of their skills, for their line of skills to be established, well known and impactful in their lives socially and economically.

Similarly, the Project Coordinator for Society for Life Changers and Good Parental Care, Mrs Adeola Falana on her talk about the United State Ambassadors Small Grant Program (ASG) hinted that the project is tailored towards improvement of socio economic well-being and health of the community, through SoLife who focuses on issues that concerns marginalized youths, women and children in the society.

Adeola, who reeled out the empowering equipment as sewing machines, hair dressers dryers, barbing clippers, welding machines, plumbing equipments, tiling kits, mechanical tools among others, added that SoLife known for ‘nurturing the seed of greatness’ imbibed different strategies like advocacy, trainings, empowerment, scholarships, seminars and many more to influence lives positively, for better living and good future.

Responding to the gesture, the National President Offa Descendant Union, Dr. R.O. Oladapo on behalf of the community appreciated SoLife and AGS for investing in the older Vulnerable Children, stating further that their contribution is a reflection of humanity, a culture to be imbibed and commended, while he called on stakeholders to join and make the society a better place for all, irrespective of class or status.

The O.D.U National President represented by Second National Vice President charged the once upon a time under privileged youth to improve on their economic status with their skills, and to be good ambassadors of the project, an act which he emphasized will give chances to others in the future.

Guests at the graduation and empowerment programme included representative of Royal father, Executives of Offa Descendant Union, Local government Chairmen, Medical Doctors, Directors, Caregivers, and Guardians among others.