By Stephanie Ngozi Okoro
In keeping with her vision of having a society of freedom, hope and worthwhile living, JDPC Issele-Uku Diocese presented start-up kits to seven adolescents who were trained through her 4GATES OVC project. The event took place at Public Health Centre Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South LGA, Delta State on Wednesday, 28th July, 2021. It began at about 10:20am with an opening prayer, which was said by one of the participants. The welcome address was given by JDPC Program Manager, Mrs Lilly Ehbomhenhuele, who represented the Director, Rev. Fr. JohnBosco Ezeonwumelu, who was unavoidably absent.
The start up kits were then inspected by the invited guest with guidiance of the 4GATES HES Officer, Mrs Florence Ugbechie-Biose, under whose supervision the beneficiaries were trained. The beneficiaries of the start up kits were also given the opportunity to share their story so far and they equally expressed the joy in their heart as they saw their kits. With tears of joy, they appreciated Caritas Nigeria and JDPC Issele-Uku for picking them from nothing and showed them a brim of light. One adolescent who was earlier profiled for skill acquisition and who would have been part of this number opted out to continue her education. She would be re-enrolled back into school.
The start up kits were presented to the beneficiaries with admonitions from memebers of the high table, the representative of Caritas Nigeria, Mr. John Ukel and the 4GATES OVC Project Manager, Stephanie Ngozi Okoro.
The dignitaries present at the event included the Deputy Chief Inspector for Education of Aniocha South, Executive Secretary (Health) of Aniocha South LGA, Aniocha South LACA Officer, Representative of the DSS Boss, Social Welfare Officer Aniocha North and the CARITAS Representative, Mr John Ukel. The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, HRH Obi Ifechukwude Okonji was also represented. To spice up the occasion, light refreshments, which was made possible by the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and Executive Secretary of Aniocha South, was shared to participants. The Obi of Ogwashi-uku also supported the beneficiaries with transport to enable them take their start up kits back home.
The event came to an end after the votes of thanks by one of the trainers and the Executive Secretary and the closing prayer, which was also led by the Executive Secretary of Aniocha South at about 1:30pm.
The 4GATES Caritas Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Project is a PEPFAR project sponsored the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) through Caritas Nigeria. Outside this, in the last one year, the project has also supported 42 caregivers to begin some income enerating activities (IGAs) to help them improve the livelihood of their households. Other 51 caregivers who are living in near destitution received cash transfers to meet their immediate family needs. As part of teaching them how to sustain themselves, over 800 households have been supported with seedlings for planting around their homes to help increase the intake of food with quality nutrients at no cost.
So far, about 250 household received water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) kits to help improve the hygiene in their homes, WASH messages were also given to them on monthly basis to help curb the spread of COVID and other contagious infections.
About 3118 children, who did not have birth certificates have received their birth certificate through the collaboration of the Nigerian Population Commission (NPoPC). These children and many more were also given deworming tablets. Thanks to Surelife Pharmaceuticals Okwe and Vaccine Networks Ozoro who helped to provide us with deworming tablets for that exercise.
It is not an ended program yet. Beneficiaries have being able to have assess to soft loan through the engagement in village savings and loan association (VSLA), formed among themselves. Three of these groups are actively going on in Isheagu, Ogwashi-uku and Igbodo, more are yet to be formed. We are also in the process of collaborating with another project to give soft loans to some of them who would need to be assisted to boost their business.
Presently, 10 other adolescent have been profiled for training in different skills, 30 caregivers for IGAs and 8 caregivers for cash transfer. On the Education domain, bulk grant have been approved for Enede Primary school Nsukwa. We shall embark on the provision of toilet Facility and renovation of the restroom building. This grant will enable 23 children who are already in the school to attend school at no cost for two years. Apart from that, with special technical assistance from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, all out of school children, who are enrolled in the program, in the different communities we work in, are being re-enrolled into the schools.
