Some UPDATES

 

We are excited and humbled to share two very important news with you all. The first news is with regards to a partnership with Slum Aid. Slum Aid is an organization based in the United Kingdom (UK), which works actively through the use of volunteers to create positive changes in local communities. This new found partnership with Slum Aid is therefore geared towards teaching various children and youth here in Nigeria on English Language. This training is further aimed at improving their use of English Language.

Furthermore, we are also glad to announce that we are now a member of the Global Network for Youth Action (GNYA). GNYA is a global coalition, which seeks to develop, connect and inform young people through civic education. This education is aimed at increasing their involvement in promoting democracy and good governance in their communities and countries. We therefore look forward to contributing our own quota in ensuring that this happens here in Nigeria.

New Membership Alert

We are glad to announce that we are now a member of the We Make Change Movement. This is a movement, which brings together social enterprises, NGOs, companies and individuals. Furthermore, these are group who have come together with a shared purpose to create positive changes and make sustainable impact in the world.

From the foregoing therefore, through this new membership; we will be working on various projects with a set of volunteers offered to us by We Make Change. These projects as you would expect will be various life changing and highly impactful projects, which will be making tremendous impacts in the lives of various vulnerable group here in Nigeria.

We are indeed once again glad and humbled to be a part of this.

A CERTIFICATION CEREMONY IN OKPANKU COMMUNITY OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

On the 17th Day of November 2020, we organized a certification ceremony for our End FGM Champions in Okpanku community of Enugu State, Nigeria. This certification ceremony was organized by us with a kind support from A Seed of Change (Canada). This ceremony was targeted at both celebrating and recognizing our end FGM champions in the community.

This event started pretty much late at exactly 12pm due to some complications, which was beyond our control. We started off with an opening prayer and also some brief introductions. After this, we listened to an address by the community leader Igwe RA Chukwu. He spoke glowingly about the good works of SIRP at the community. He specially thanked us for the various activities, which we have undertaken at the community and said that the community was indebted to us. Furthermore, he encouraged all those who will be certified as our champions to see it as a call to service to God and humanity.

After this, we were also privileged to listen to Barrister Somtochukwu Ugwu who is the Gender Head/ Partnerships Officer at SIRP. In his remarks, he spoke extensively about the reasoning behind SIRP’s efforts at the community. He stated that this project became necessary as there were great negative effects occasioned by FGM at the community. These negative effects as he stated ranged from health challenges to educational and economic empowerment challenges. This has therefore necessitated this project. He went on further to tell everyone present that this project wouldn’t have been possible without the kind support of A Seed of Change (Canada). He thereafter encouraged everyone who will be recognized on that day to make good use of this opportunity.

After this, we were further privileged to listen to various remarks from a cross-section of participants at the event. Finally, we thereafter witnessed presentation of certificates to various participants at the event. These certificates were presented to over 30 persons who have participated in one way or the other throughout the project. At the end of this event, one can see that these certificates meant so much to these participants as they were all appreciative and beamed with smile. This event finally came to an end at exactly 2:30 pm with a vote of thanks and closing prayers said by one of the project beneficiaries.

A WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (WEE) PROJECT IN OKPANKU COMMUNITY OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

 

In October 2020, we collaborated with A Seed of Change (Canada) to organize a skill acquisition program for various unskilled and unemployed young women and girls here in Enugu State, Nigeria. We specifically organized this event because of the high rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Currently in Nigeria, it is estimated that 16 million youth in Nigeria are unemployed. The foregoing according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) accounts for 23.1% of the Nigerian population.

In a bid to mitigate the foregoing staggering statistics, we targeted 15 young women and girls from Okpanku community of Enugu State. We empowered them by training them on how to bake various snacks like buns, fish rolls, fish pies and small chops. This training is in clear alignment with our definition of Women Economic Empowerment (WEE). We define WEE as the process by which women and girls gain the ability to make decisions not just for themselves, but also for others.

All in all, we sure had fun and were also fulfilled implementing this activity as we made a tremendous impact in the lives of our beneficiaries. The goal for us still remains the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which provides for gender equality and women empowerment by 2030.

AN END FGM PROJECT IN OKPANKU COMMUNITY OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

 

In June 2020, SIRP in Okpanku Community of Enugu State, Nigeria organized a knowledge sharing session on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) for 7 participants. These 7 participants comprised of both the Traditional Ruler of Okpanku and members of his cabinet. The whole basis for this session was to increase their knowledge about FGM and to also gain their support in ending it in the community.

This program kicked off with an opening prayer and introductions facilitated by Mrs Nnedi. After this, there was a brief opening remark from Dr. Chris Ugwu, the Executive Director of SIRP, Nigeria. He first of all thanked A Seed of Change (Canada) for supporting this program. Thereafter, he thanked all the participants for making out time to attend this training.

We thereafter went on an assessment of the current status of FGM in the community. This is most especially with regards to its prevalence rates. We thereafter went on to give participants a general overview of FGM. This overview included topics on why FGM was still practiced in the community. Furthermore, we discussed on its demerits for not just women and girls, but to the community as well.

After this training, we thereafter entertained comments from a host of participants. First to speak was Igwe RA Chukwu (The traditional ruler of Okpanku). He said that this training is indeed an eye-opener for them as they have learnt things, which they did not know about before. He went on further to assure us of his commitment to pass bye-laws to see that this practice is ended in the community. Elechi Christopher on his own part stated that he was mostly impressed with the strategy we used. This he said was very good as it allowed everyone to air their opinions and thoughts about FGM. He further assured us of his own commitment to ensuring an end to FGM in the community.

After this series of comments, the participants were later split into 3 groups under gender, health and education. This was done for them to properly discuss on the way forward for this project. After these deliberations, they thereafter made group presentations.

Finally, the workshop came to an end with a closing remark by Dr. Chris Ugwu thanking everyone for coming and specially thanking A Seed of Change (Canada) for supporting this program.

Unskilled to Skilled (U2S)

 

Last week, we collaborated with Mentorship forum with Makky (MFM) to organize a skill acquisition program for various unskilled and unemployed youth here in Enugu State, Nigeria. We specifically organized this event because of the high rate of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Currently in Nigeria, it is estimated that 16 million youth in Nigeria are unemployed. The foregoing according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) accounts for 23.1% of the Nigerian population.

In a bid to mitigate the foregoing staggering statistics, we specifically targeted 15 unskilled and unemployed young men and women. Through this program, they learnt various skills, which included the following:

·         How to create a one page website

·         Make-up skills

·         Shoe-making skills

·         Grant writing skills

These skills were taught by various well experienced and trained facilitators. These facilitators included: Clemente, Chiamaka, Theodore and of course our very own Somtochukwu. At the end of the day participants went home with greats skills, which they intend to, build on and translate into income generation. We are very much committed to ensuring that youth in Nigeria have access to decent work and increased economic growth.

International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) 2020 Celebrations

 

To commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, which had the theme “My voice, our equal future”, Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP) organized two great and inspiring activities. The first activity was a campaign to end period poverty in Akwuke community of Enugu State, Nigeria. In this regard, we targeted 16 young girls from the community who we taught about menstrual hygiene generally. We furthermore stressed the need for them to avoid using various unhygienic materials during their periods. Finally, we provided them with sanitary pads and various toiletries.

On the other hand, we implemented a skill acquisition program at Okpanku community of Enugu State, Nigeria. In this regard, we targeted 15 young women and girls. We empowered them by training them on how to bake various snacks like buns, fish rolls, fish pies and small chops. This training is in clear alignment with our definition of Women Economic Empowerment (WEE). We define WEE as the process by which women and girls gain the ability to make decisions not just for themselves, but also for others.

All in all, we sure had fun and were also fulfilled implementing these activities as we made a tremendous impact in the lives of our beneficiaries. The goal for us still remains the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which provides for gender equality and women empowerment by 2030.