It was a time of fun activities for children, when a Faith Based Organisation (FBO), Women With Answers Christian Ministry, hosted over 1,000 children in Aso Pada Community, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, as they prepared to return to school, HELEN OJI, reports.
For children in Aso Pada Community, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, Saturday August 27, 2022, will remain a memorable day as the Women With Answers Christian Ministry, hosted over 1,000 during its ‘Feed A Child’ programme in preparation for resumption of the new academic session.
The group did not only treat the children to free meals but gave them free back to school packs, thus reducing the cost to parents, as children returned to school following the long vacation and emergence closure of schools in Abuja and its environs over security challenges.
The initiative which had planned to host 500 children was greatly overwhelmed as over 1,000 children, drawn from across religious and tribal lines, turned up with some coming for second rounds and forcing the organisers to replicate the programme in batches.
Founder of the Initiative, Reverend Adedamola Olajumoke, while speaking with journalists, said: “The Feed A Child’ programme was divinely inspired. It was conceived by divine instruction sometimes in the month of May while going on a walk on the streets of Mararaba to feed the children in the community.
According to her the “Women With Answers Christian Ministry, was founded on September 1, 2018, and operates from the Capital City of Abuja, Nigeria with a vision to raise Godly women who are capable of penetrating into any part of the world with the gospel of Christ.”
She noted that the programme, which was the maiden edition, would definitely not be the last, as the group intended to replicate the programme in as many communities as possible and as led by God.
Reverend Adedamola further noted that being the first time; the programme was not without its challenges.
‘We’ll sustain programme’
In her words, “Being a first time event, the major challenge we encountered at the initial stage was getting approvals from necessary quarters and community stakeholders but thankfully, we were able to overcome this and eventually got the buy-in from everyone that was needed including the district head, youth leaders, and security agencies among others.”
Speaking on funding, the founder said the programme was funded through cash and kind donations from volunteers, partners and members of the ministry.
“As a faith based organisation, our immediate next steps is to continue to intercede for the lives of all the beneficiaries. We are also in touch with the community leaders to see other ways to support the children,” she stated.
Reverend Adedamola explained that the primary support the ministry would request for were prayers and well wishes, just as added that they were open to donations from good spirited individuals who may want to partner and support the initiative.
They put smiles on our faces – Youth leader
On his part, a member of the community and Youth President, Aso Pada, Mr. Shamujin John, said: “The initiative was of huge benefit to the community and its environs. It is a very good one to reach and touch over 1,000 children, including parent as we have seen here today.
“Women With Answers Christian Ministry has indeed put smiles on our faces especially with the back to school kits given to our children.”
Monarch hails group
Similarly, the District Head, Aso Pada Community, Karu Local Government, Sarki Shayindo, said: “We are happy Women With Answers Ministry brought this programme to our doorstep to motivate our children to go back to school.
“There is no better gift to give children than the gift of education and that is what this gesture has done. Thank you for feeding the children and giving them beautiful gifts. We hope to see more of such.”
