UK Based NGO Empowers Vulnerable Children in Bauchi
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A UK based Non-Governmental Organization based in Khairos Initiative has put a smile on the faces of some vulnerable group through vocational training and empowerment program in Bauchi.
Through the program Orphans were selected from the Cornerstone Orphanage, Yelwa, Bauchi and were trained in various vocations that includes carpentry, tailoring, make-up and hairdressing.
The Founder of the NGO, Ije McDougall, at the weekend said she was motivated to train and empower the children because of her desire to impact on the lives of the orphans in a positive manner.
She said: “This is an orphanage and they are used to people coming to give them fish but what I noticed is that they are not used to people coming to teach them how to fish. The idea is that we are empowering them so they also train others too.
“We empowered 15 of the orphans, we asked them to choose what they are passionate about so that they can take it seriously. We don’t know where that big break is going to come from and it is obvious that they all want to go to school and become great in life but we don’t know where it will start. This could be what will give them the big break in life.”
McDougall charged the beneficiaries not to waste the knowledge they have acquired and the items they were given.
In his response, the founder of the Orphanage, Joel Jijingi, commended Khairos Initiative for the kind gesture saying that the NGO has always supported them.
“Khairos Initiative an NGO founded in the United Kingdom by Ije McDougall, has been very supportive to us. Last year, they gave us food for six months and they gave us a wonderful Christmas.
“This year, they stepped it up, they gave us Christmas dresses and eventually, they came and celebrated the Christmas with us. They’ve actually been taking care of this home and we are grateful to God for them because we know what it takes to see clothes for over 50 orphans, that is not easy.
He called on wealthy individuals in the country to rise up to the challenge of helping those in need particularly orphans and other vulnerable groups stressing that “it is not that we don’t have the resources, we have them. If only they can just put a smile on a poor neighbour’s who is in need with the resources they have, it will be wonderful.
Hanna Amos, one of the beneficiaries, said the gesture has changed her life and “I feel excited and happy and I am speechless. Through this make-up, many people have become great, famous and rich and I am hoping that one day, I will also be like them.”