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INTRODUCTION: Pre-implementation Stage: The pre-implementation stage began with the sorting of the whole materials collected to record every content in each school bag. After recording what each OVC is to benefit in our Global Fund Record Book, the name of each beneficiary was pasted on each bag for easy retirement and disbursement at the field. The CEO ACERDEN contacted the principals, teachers and caregivers of the OVCs to encourage them to mobilize the OVCs for the disbursement exercise on an agreed date. Implementation Stage: ACERDEN Staff comprising the Director, Mrs. Henrietta Ugwu and the Account Assistant, Ifeyinwa N. Agwu left Enugu, having contacted the principal and teachers of the OVCs earlier in the morning, for Udah community in Igbo-Eze North LGA. The Principal, teachers, caregivers and even the OVCs were very pleased to see us and they gave us warm reception. The OVCs were gathered together in front of the principal's office. They were ten in number. Ugwu Loveth K. could not be identified. Her elder sister told us that Ugwu Loveth have travelled to Onitsha to serve as a house help. She was replaced by Ugwu Hope U. in the same school but in SS1. The materials were distributed to them accordingly and the first to receive was Chukwujama Okpe who was the youngest among them. We gave him school bag containing textbooks, notebooks, writing materials and health product. He was so happy when he saw these items. His caregiver was given money for his PTA levy, school sandals, and stokens. All the children received each of the items and materials as contained in their bags. A dress maker was called who gave us the cost of purchasing and sewing school uniform for ten OVCs, four boys and six girls. He was paid cash and he promised to deliver before school vacates for the Christmas holiday. All the OVCs were advised to go to the tailor for collection of their school uniforms. Thus we succeeded in disbursing our OVC materials at Uda in Igboeze North LGA on the 1st of December 2010. With respect to Uzo-Uwani LGA comprising of Adani, Uvuru and Akiyi Umulokpa, the visit was scheduled for another day. On the 9th of December 2010, ACERDEN staff left very early that morning having gathered adequate information about the three communities that house our OVCs. One of the community Adani, was about 75km away from Nsukka with rough and untarred road. We arrived and went straight to Star Light Secondary School, hoping to identify Tochukwu Idu, but unfortunately we could not find him. We were able to see his uncle Mr Bernard Idu who gave us all the information we needed about Tochukwu. We were told that Tochukwu lost his only surviving parent (Mother) who died six months ago and so there was no one else to take care of him, let alone see to his education. He had traveled to Benue State to stay with his cousin. He also promised us that Tochukwu will go back to school to continue his education in Benue State. We left there to Unity Primary School where we were able to identify Chinaecherem Igwebuike who is currently in primary two (2) contrary to the information given to us. We were told that she is in primary 3. She is such a quiet girl and a double orphan who has other three (3) sibling brothers in Onitsh as house helps to people. She was so happy when she received all materials we gave to her. Her caregiver was given money for her PTA levy, school uniform, sewing cost, sandals and stokens, The Caregiver, Nkechi James gave us the assurance that she will purchase and sew the school uniform for Chenaecherem and continue taking care of her. We collected her phone number to enable us keep in touch with her to see that she implemented what she promised. Concerning Chijioke Nnamene, we traced him at Sinai Comprehensive College. He is also a double orphan but has the zeal to study. We gave him his school bag containing text books, notebooks, writing materials and health products to the amazement of others present. The money for his PTA levy was given to his teacher. His caregiver Mr Okonkwo P. O. was given the money for his school uniform, sandals, stokens and the cost of sewing the uniform. We also collected the GSM no. of the caregiver and two contact persons there to enable us have periodic information about the two OVCs there. Meanwhile, we could not find Cosmos Gabriel Eze Okoro at his proposed school and every effort made to trace him down to his maternal village to look for him proved abortive since there was no one to give us reliable information on how to trace him. However, we replaced these two OVCs that could not be found with these new OVCs. Tochukwu Idu SS1 was replaced with Ugwuanyi Ekwutosi who is also in SS1 Gabriel Cosmos Eze Okoro JSS 3 was replaced with Ugwu Samuel who is currently in JSS 3. With these new development, we were able to disburse all the items and materials we were given. The new OVCs and their caregivers were very happy to see the big burden lifted off their shoulder. They prayed for our journey mercy back to Enugu. Although, it was not easy locating these OVCs since they were from different villages but our joy was complete seeing that our mission have been accomplished. The joy and the radiant smiles from the faces of those OVCs is worth the suffering we underwent. LESSONS AND CHALLENGES: In these communities there are a lot of OVCs that need help and support. The work is interesting with great challenges. However, with sustained support from development partners, a lot more disadvantaged children could reached and offered the opportunity to receive education. Secondly, most of the communities especially in Uzo-Uwani LGA are with bad terrains and almost inaccessible. Thirdly, the cost of transportation to these communities is enormous as a result of long distance and inaccessibility and therefore requires adequate attention in the budgeting for OVC activities and interventions by NGOs in the communities. RECOMMENDATIONS: In the light of the above, the following recommendations are considered necessary:
S/N
Name of Child
Sex
Age
School
Class
1 Okpe Chukwujama M 9 Ezeodo Com. Primary School Uda Primary 3 2 Igwebuike Chinecherem F 8 Unity Primary School Akiyi Primary 3 3 Osai Nnamdi K. M 10 St. Luke’s Anglican School Amufie Primary 4 4 Ugwuanyi Louina F 10 Ezeodo CPS Uda Primary 5 5 Agbo Chinonso M 13 Central School Igogoro Primary 6 6 Ugwu Loveth K. F 15 CSS Amufie JSS 2 7 Odo Promise F 15 CSS Igogoro JSS 3 8 Chijioke Nnamene M 12 Sinai Comprehensive Collage Adani JSS 3 9 Gabriel C. Eze Okoro M 13 Uvuru Secondary School Adani JSS 3 10 Tochukwu Idu M 14 Starlight Secondary School Adani SS 1 11 Agbedo Celetine M 15 Community Secondary School Uda SS 1 12 Ugwanyi Chinasa F 15 Community Secondary School Uda SS 1 13 Lebechi Odo F 16 Community Secondary School Uda SS 3 14 Ugwu Blessing F 17 Community Secondary School Uda SS 3 |
