NGO engages children in community cleanup exercise
By Damilola Kushimo
No fewer than 36 children from Isolo, Ilasamaja and Ajao Estate and other residents were engaged to participate in community cleanup exercise by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), ISOILAJ in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) over the weekend.
The environmental sanitation exercise which was a buildup programme to the much attended town hall meeting held at Isolo City Hall by stakeholders from the three communities was organised to sensitise and educate people on their roles and responsibilities as citizens of the community.
According to its chairman, Chief Muftau Ekundayo, ISOILAJ is a family straightening programme where parents and children within the three communities who are at the risk of losing parental care or those who have lost both parents are cared for.
He noted that 268 families have been supported with 850 children (434 males and 416 females) by the NGO as it comprises a Community Based Organisation and a Programme Monitoring Committee.
“The CBO implements and executes the programme while the PMC supervises and regulates the operation of the NGO, it is the supervisory body (The Watchdog).
“ISOILAJ is a registered organisation under the constituted authority with a signed, sealed and stamped memorandum of understanding with the SOS Children’s village,” he stated.
He therefore urged the residents to work with the NGO by identifying the children within the community who are in need of the organisation’s support, saying that should be one of their responsibilities as good citizens of the community.
Analyzing the achievements of the NGO so far, the SOS National Director, Eghosa Erhumwunse, said in partnership with the SOS, the NGO has been able to refurbish eight public primary schools in the three communities, projects which cost over N50million as well as provisions of basic needs in terms of finance, education, health wise, shelter to less privileged in the community.
Meanwhile, funding, cultural barriers, dependency on volunteers, government recognition were identified as the major challenges faced by the NGO.
