By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A leading child rights protection organisation in Africa known as the African Children’s Aid Education and Development Foundation (ACAEDF) is planning to raise funds for education development in riverine communities and rehabilitation of over 1,000 children and young adults through donations.
The group, which has been doing humanitarian works for the past seven years by protecting the rights of children across the continent, has rescued and transformed more than 234 children across Nigeria.
To mark its seven years of impactful existence in Nigeria and across Africa, an event has been fixed for Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at ACAEDF Crescent, Ikot Afaha, Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
A statement from the organisation said dignitaries, industry captains and notable child rights promoters across the continent would attend the programme themed Children for Change Celebration (CHICC).
Activities lined up in commemoration of the foundation’s seven years anniversary include raffle tickets for community development, fashion show, music performance and poetry, cocktail events and a novelty football match.
Since its inception in 2014, ACAEDF has been mobilising people and resources to advocate, protect and proactively provide interventions especially against child witch branding and other forms of abuses.
The foundation’s provable track records especially within its community of practice include rescue and sheltering homeless children accused of witchcraft, provision of quality education both to sheltered children and those on the Home Support Programme and reunification and reintegration of the rescued children into the society.
The foundation’s multi-purpose childcare centre called Land of Hope is equipped with an in-house hospital, skills/vocational training centre, library, children’s parliament, sporting/recreational facilities, residential areas, amongst others.
Speaking on the impacts made by the foundation since its inception, the founder and Executive Director of ACAEDF, Mr David Umem, stated that, “Our vision is to provide every child with the audacity to hope for a better life and an envisaged future.
“The foundation came into existence in the first place because we saw the ever-widening gap between child abuse and timely interventions by the authorities.
“The situations of child witch branding which is championed by adults and parents whose duty is to protect these children ignited in us the need to intervene and provide direct and immediate aid to these children whose rights have been greatly abused.
“Also, beyond our intervention programs, we have in place an established structure used to propagate the message of hope and build top of mind awareness on child right acts through community intervention programs.
“We enjoin every Nigerian to make an effort to help at least one child every day, that way, the message of hope would be extended to everyone across the continent.”
“It is vital to also state that in the actual sense, what we are celebrating are the people, our team of dedicated experts and over 1,000 children, young adults, parents and communities who have been impacted by our campaigns and interventions.
“In the coming future, we hope to create a sustainable and thriving environment free from all form of child abuse.
“My utmost gratitude also goes to my dedicated team who works tirelessly to ensure that the purpose of this organisation is actualized,” Mr Umem added.
Also, the Director for Child Development at ACAEDF, Mr Nsidibe Orok, reiterated the organisation’s commitment towards child-right protection in the continent.
“As a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization, we aspire for a society free of child witch branding and all forms of child abuse.
“This aspiration has informed our commitment. The team has shown their commitment through active and impactful contributions in putting an end to all forms of child abuse and witch-hunting.
“Currently, we are proactively collaborating with the riverine communities across the Niger Delta on methods to improve access to qualitative education.
“These communities have been completely forgotten in terms of the provision of basic amenities like clean water, schools, healthcare facilities, good roads, electricity amongst others and thus make children from these areas vulnerable to the adoption of criminal behaviours and other social anomalies.
“We seek partners particularly in using ICT for qualitative and sustainable education to improve the lives of a vast population of people especially children in Riverine communities,” Mr Orok stated.
Adedapo Adesanya