GSK INITIATIVE NIGERIA 2023 WEEK

DAY 2: COMMUNITY SERVICE

Theme: Fostering Inclusion- Changing Community’s Perception towards Street Connected Children

On Saturday, August 19th, 2023, Global Support for Kids Initiative Nigeria (GSKI) staff in Ekiti & Ogun State respectively continued their week-long activities on end to violence against children with the theme “Fostering Inclusion – Changing Community’s Perception towards Street Connected Children.” The event was held at Oja Oba/Bisi Markets in Ad0-Ekiti, Ekiti State and Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and was grace by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Women Affairs, Stakeholders, Market Women Representative, Street Connected Children, Volunteers and the Staff of GSK Initiatives.

The activity which purpose is to create awareness on keeping a clean environment, reduce environmental pollution and sensitize the general public about Good Parenting and child abuse, also serves as a way of giving back to the society and changing the view of the society about the Street-Connected Children as they participate actively in the activity.

The activity commence exactly 9:00 am as the staff, volunteers, stakeholders and our guests proceed to the markets to carry out the cleaning exercise while our Stakeholders and Community Actor enlighten  the  traders about the activities and the GSK Initiative Staff use the opportunity to shed more light about the organisation, thematic areas and purpose of the programme.

It was heart-warming seeing everybody coming together for a good cause of this nature. We at GSK Initiative hopes that this kind of events will help change people’s perception and make them understand that everybody have what to contribute to make the community habitable to all of us.

At the end of the community service, GSK Initiative Staff interviewed some of the market women and passer-by as they both appreciated the organisation for coming out to play vital role in the society since we know that the government cannot do it all alone and implore other organisations and individuals to emulate this beautiful act so that the society can be a better place for everyone.

Our stakeholders were not left out as they also share their views about the activities of the day, the representative of the permanent secretary of the Ministry Of Environment Mrs. Abioye Olusola( Ogun State)gave a speech, she spoke about the need to embrace the street connected children also letting everyone know they are important in the society, she also spoke about the cleaning of our environment because cleanliness is next to Godliness and lastly she appreciated the President of GSK Initiative for intimating the ministry of this lofty program and giving the ministry the platform to be able to provide service to humanity at this critical time in the history of our nation.

Mrs Olasebikan representative from the Ministry of Environment (Ekiti State) in her comment during the interview, she commended the organisation for the amazing efforts and look forward in working with the organisation more to ensure our environment is clean and encourage the not to relent in the good work they are doing in the society.

Mr Fashina from the Ministry of Women Affairs was given the floor; he appreciated the President and staff of GSK initiative for this program and he prayed that the organization will continue to soar high. He advised the street connected children who were with us during the community service to continue to involve themselves in activities that are environmental friendly.

After the community service, the staff, volunteers, guests and stakeholders carried out sensitization in the markets, to sensitize the market men and women, hawkers and passersby on Child Abuse and Good Parenting as fliers and posters was distributed to them. The program came to an end at exactly 1:20pm with group photographs and the distribution of snacks and drinks for all participants.