Appreciating her partners for their unflinching support over the years, the Bimbo Odukoya Foundation (BOF) enumerated the projects she has been able to accomplish in February.
According to the Coordinator Mrs. Ronke Oyelakin, the foundation has been able to get a property she intended to use for the permanent site of the Hope House, a habitation for girls, and a down payment has been made with the hope to pay up the balance by December 2021.
She also mentioned that two of the girls who were reported to be in need of empowerment in hairdressing and garment making have recently been sorted and their sponsor made payment into the Foundation’s account. She promised that a follow up would be made on the girls to monitor their business growth.
In the same vein, Mrs Oyelakin had her closing session at Lagos Business School as she completed her certificate course in Non-profit Leadership and Management.
She also took over the leadership of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Lagos State Chapter as the State Coordinator, an initiative of UNICEF that prevents and responds to child protection issues in the country.
The foundation participated in the recently concluded two days Legislative Advocacy Training for Women’s Rights Organization by Women Aid Collective (WACOL) in collaboration with United Nations Women under the Spotlight Initiative Project at Dover Hotel, Aromire Ikeja, Lagos State on 10th and 11th February 2021.
BOF also sent her representatives to all meetings within and outside of Lagos state as it concerns sensitising widows and women in general on human rights and gender equality as well as the need for them to know and understand the inheritance rights in Nigeria, the structures that could be accessed free of charge and the right agencies to contact to assist them in getting their inheritance when they have lost their partner.
Furthermore, we made progress in her intervention and responses to domestic violence as four (4) cases of domestic violence and two (2) child welfare/access were attended to in February. The cases, according to Mrs Oyelakin, are ongoing with referrals made to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development (Family Social Services), the African Women’s Lawyers Association (AWLA), and Child Protection Network (CPN) for further intervention.
In her words, “A big thank you to our partner, Fadahunsi Education Foundation (FEF) for their continuous educational support to some of our clients for over 4 years now. Three children’s school fees were paid by FEF and three others who were children from a recent domestic violence home, now separated were sorted and placed back in school by BOF. A total of 8 children are currently on the education support scheme of the foundation whilst three are being handled by FEF.”
Six (6) ex-clients of the Hope House were also visited and followed up on by the volunteers of the foundation via phone call/WhatsApp chats. A survivor of incest was also placed at another home by BOF and has completed her 12 sessions on abuse recovery and counselling/therapy by three designated volunteers.
Mrs Oyelakin thereafter urged the partners to not relent in their support as there are still urgent needs to be met by the foundation.
According to her, “Two domestic violence survivors are in search of employment as they are currently separated from their husbands due to physical injuries. They have been referred to the DSVRT (Ministry of Justice), but need to get something to do to earn a living. The foundation needs a bus, and at the moment, we require N1.7 million naira to add to the donations received already to purchase a befitting branded Toyota bus for the day-to-day activities of the foundation.”
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