As Christians worldwide prepare to mark the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, a Non Governmental Organization(NGO), Savingcross Justicepoint Foundation(SJF), has extended goodwill and support to over 150 indigents people in Ibadan.
In the spirit of the season, the NGO distributed food items and various relief materials such as rice, sweet potatoes, noodles, clothes, shoes, books and other daily needs.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Executive Director/Founder of the NGO, Mrs Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo, said that the reasons behind Savingcross Justicepoint Foundation Christmas Miracle was to prevent gender based violence, family tension and vulnerability as a result of increased hunger.
Folajuwon-Banjo, a legal practitioner said that the NGO’s 4th edition Christmas giveaway outreach, tagged: “Christmas Miracle” was also aimed at removing the burden of what to eat or wear during Christmas celebration from the less privileged in the society.
She noted that lack of foods and other basic needs had made many indigents, especially women and girls victims of abuses, victimization and all forms of unpalatable experience like rape and other crimes.
” A father who has not been able to provide food for his family at Christmas would likely be prone to be under pressure and misbehave while mothers will have anxiety about not being able to feed their children.
“Fights and arguments are likely going to take place in families where there is no food to eat on christmas day, temptation for bad choices may also increase.
“SJF therefore decides to address the challenge of hunger on Christmas day for families in need and the plan is that when they come with the thought of getting food only, they get more.
“They get medically checked and counselled, they get good clothes and shoes and other items they do not expect. This has undeniably been putting joy in the faces of beneficiaries since inception of Christmas Miracle, “she said.
Also speaking, AWLA Nig. Oyo State branch Coordinator, Mrs. Adebimpe Alex-Ndukwe, urged the beneficiaries no to subject their children to forced labour and other forms of abuses to raise money due to economic hardship in the country.
She warned that any forms of abuses against children are punishable under the law, she added that sending under age children to start selling on the streets could exposure such children to rape and other crimes.
Receiving the food items, Mrs Martina Ibah, lauded the gesture of the foundation for its humanitarian service to the people.
She urged the government to support and collaborate more with the NGOs at the grassroots because they are more closed to many indigents in the society and understand their plights.
“We really appreciate what the Savingcross Justicepoint Foundation is doing for indigents people in the society. We pray that people will continue to help the less privileged like what this foundation did today, “she said.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Monsurat Ajibade, called on other well meaning Nigerians to take a cue from what the foundation has been doing to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
“It is highly impressive to see a foundation without any political undertones to reach out to the less privileged in society in large numbers even with the current economic situation in the country, we pray that God will continue to bless their works,” she said.
