The Global Support for Kids Initiative has donated tools and cash to some widows in Ekiti State at an empowerment programme held at the organisation’s office located in Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti.
The equipment handed over to the beneficiaries include grinding machines and sewing machines to enable them start their own businesses immediately.
The Executive Director of the Initiative, Opeyemi Olowookere, said the organization’s programmes was part of social responsibility to reduce poverty in the society focusing on family support.
“Women should be empowered to reduce poverty rate in our society, as the current economy situation directly affects the children. When parents failed to meet up with their responsibilities, definitely the children’s crucial needs cannot be met’, he said.
Olowookere, represented by the Country Director, Adebisi Olamiposi explained that the reason for empowerment was in line with policy of the organsisation of bringing succor to the needy.
‘As a way to help these children under our programme, the organization came up with a way of providing a lasting solution to the financial challenges that our OVC Parent are going through which has to do with feeding and clothing for the children’, he said.
“GSK Initiative resolved that helping their parents will mean helping the children too, since the initiative realized that the support we gave to some parents in the past is not sustainable. This made us come up with the idea of empowering them with something sustainable like what we are doing here today’.
The Executive Director advised beneficiaries on need to judiciously make use of the gestures, most importantly for the interest of the children.
Notable guests who were present at the event include: Mrs Caroline Aluko(Director of Child, Ministry of Women Affairs), who was represented by Coordinator of Child Protection Network(CPN), Mr Tolu Ogunniyi; Coordinator Civil Society on HIV/AIDS Ekiti State Chapter, Dr Peter Akosile; Mrs Olaoluwa Timothy and Mrs Abimbola Adegboyega from Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State.
Some of the beneficiaries include Mrs Bosede Matthew, Mrs Elizabeth Salami, Mrs Funke Talabi, Mrs Damilola Olaosebikan and Miss Sefunmi Olatunji.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the organization for the opportunity given to them, assuring that they will not take the opportunity for granted.
