In a bid to give hope and put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable an Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja, has rolled out its reach-out programme for over 500 vulnerable women across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi.
The Foundation also distributed assorted food items and clothing as part of activities to mark its 20th anniversary and end of year reach-out and empowerment programme for vulnerable women and children in rural communities.
Speaking to journalists during the programme at Moshood Abiola Stadium, the President of the Foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, revealed that over 10,000 vulnerable women and children have benefited from the scheme since inception in 2003, while 3,000 children from less privileged homes are on the scholarship scheme of the foundation.
She also used the forum to state that besides the reach-out programme, the foundation has redesigned its programmes to focus more on skill acquisition training and empowerment rather than distribution of food stuffs, stressing that the 20th anniversary was unique as over 100 women would be empowered to carry out various skills.
“We are here this morning to mark our 20th anniversary and at the same time have our usual annual reach-out programme for widows and orphans across the FCT and the neighbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi.
“It has been our tradition for 20 years now to seize every opportunity and occasion to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged especially women. Today, we are training women on the art of gale making in different forms in view of the season and to distribute foods and clothing items to them, so that they too can join the privileged class to celebrate Christmas.
“It has been our philosophy and our slogan that “nobody is too poor to give and nothing is too small to give”. However, we at Helpline Foundation have decided to focus more on skill acquisition programmes and empowerment of the vulnerable as we can witness today,” she stressed.
The Founder commended the present administration for demonstrating commitment in ensuring that women are able to access available grants designed for women empowerment, adding that the FCT Gender Department under the Social Development Secretariat has lived up to its mandates.
In her words: “We have now gone beyond talk, and we are now doing what ought to be done for women. We in the FCT, the Gender Department under the Social Development Secretariat is always there for us. The government of the day is beginning to live up to its responsibility in terms of women empowerment.”
Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries, who is the Coordinator, Bwari Women, Mrs. Terdoo Ubah, commended the Foundation for its steadfastness in women empowerment, revealing that the revolving loan scheme launched by the foundation has empowerment over 200 widows in Bwari Area Council.
The highpoint was talks for women on how to start a business with zero capital; digital tools for growing a business online; how to tie gale; soap and disinfection production, as well as basic protection for the girl child.
