It is common
knowledge that we are irrepressibly dedicated to wiping out tears from the
faces of the Street children (who are
subjected to untold hardship occassioned by neglect) through our various
programes. No wonder we remain indelible on the hearts of our teeming
supporters.
"You
have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never
repay." John Bunyan.
Taking the above
as a catalyst, the staffs of Global Support for Kids Initiative swung into action
on 12th August 2020 as early as 08:30am. As the day’s schedule,we intentionally
devoted quality time for the street
children. It was an empowerment program passionately designed to teach the kids
how to make liquid soap with the aim of helping them to earn money for
themselves. It was a calculated effort
to step up the rescue campaign by
teaching them how to catch fish rather than just giving them fish.
The children
were not only made to recognize by name, each of the reactant (chemicals to be
mixed), but also shown how to purchase them -
with the current price. It is gladdening to know at this juncture, that
with just #3,000 ($7:90) as start-up capital, the liquid soap business can
fetch #10,000 ($26.32) for each child. One does not thus need the service of a
prophet to be told that a diligent child can make tens of thousands with
minimal capital. How happy will such a
child be - to be at par with his privileged peers?
With
ignorance, being said not to be an
escape for punishment, certain period was dedicated specifically to educating
them on the hazards chemical generally can pose if not properly handled-with
particular emphasis on the ones directly involved in making the soap. They were
also made to understand that drugs - being made of chemicals- were harmful when
abused.
In line with
the position of a 17th century English clergyman ,Thomas Fuller "Seing is
believing...";the soap was made in the pretence of the children. This in
essence is the hallmark of the practical training session. Of course it was an
impacting attempt.
Not only the
children (who were the primary beneficiaries) but also other people within the
vicinity of the venue were given some quantity of the liquid soap, upon
completing the production process.
Statistics
has proven that countless children are left on the streets to grapple with
hunger, rejection, stigmatization, depression as well as all sorts of hazards.
The cumulative consequence is thewanton
loss of lives and properly arising from social unrest that has permeated
our society in recent times.
It suffices
to, at this juncture therefore, passionately encourage our ever - increasing,
honoured and kind – hearted supporters to rise bravely to join us in the rescue war to deliver the street children from the destructive
claws of abandonment with the words of
Anne Dooley " If you succeed in enabling one soul in darkness to
find the Light, one troubled, wearied individual to gain strength, if you
comfort one mourner, if you heal one sick person, if you prevent exploitation
of and cruelty, even to one animal, then indeed your earthly life has been well
worth living... This is the greatest of all fights, the eternal war against
materialism, selfishness, these deadly diseases that are festering in your
world today and lead so many on to foolish paths where they perish in the
darkness without a realisation of the purpose for which they were born into the
world."
Opeyemi Olajide Olowookere
President/ Executive Director,
Global Support for Kids Initiative
