Joy as HOG-I Hands Over skills acquisition materials to Anambra Community

It was all joy to people of Ifite Anam, a community in Anambra West Local Government Area, Anambra State as they benefitted from a COVID-19 response, CRISE, project from advocacy and non-governmental group, Hope Givers Initiative.

CRISE Project which is supported by Christian Aid and funded by the government of the United Kingdom (UK Aid) was geared towards eliminating extreme poverty among some rural dwellers as a result of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The group handed over no fewer than 13 skill acquisition materials including Five Hair Drier machines, Five Hair Washing Basin, and three standard sewing machines to the community whose selected members had undergone training in sewing and hairdressing.

Leading the team to the community, Mrs. Eucharia Anekwe said the COVID-19 Response (CRISE) Project was part of the efforts to alleviate suffering of the people as well as equip the downtrodden with the skills to re-establish themselves and earn a living.

She disclosed that the project is aimed at alleviating poverty among the rural dwellers occasioned by the ravaging effects of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

“Covid-19 had serious effects on parents and rendered some homes hungry. Some youths could not help because they were unemployed which is why we started with them to empower them to be supportive not only to themselves but also to their families.

” The project is to help people survive ravaging effects of COVID-19 as well as empower youths who have learned the skill through training organized by us.”

Speaking to newsmen, 17 years old Mbanefo Faith from Iyiora who is among the beneficiaries of the training at the acquisition center expressed gratitude at the opportunity she had to learn sewing at the cost of nothing. She said the skill is now part of her and would utilize it in helping herself and her family especially with the provision of new sets of machines to the center.

Another beneficiary, Anuri Ikechukwu, said she is satisfied with the support by Hope Givers -Initiative noting that she learned different styles of hair plaiting courtesy of the training. She added that the machines at her disposal and opportunity will enable her to establish and train her children without being reliant on her husband.

Oriaku Nwachukwu, a trainer on hairdressing at the skills acquisition center lauded the project brought to them by the Hope Givers Initiative stressing that the project is timely for youths of the community. According to her, those who have been trained will train other youths of the community in the skills they acquired. She maintained that the machines supplied to the center are a boost to their morale and will go a long way to spreading such skills across the community.

Also, the President General of Ifite Anam, Joseph Obidike said Mmiata, Iyiora, and Aboegbu in Ifite Anam are poverty-stricken areas who he said have been experiencing heavy flooding annually and as a result, subjected to hunger.

While Obidike who was represented by Mr. Mattias Ameke thanked Hope givers for the intervention, he charged the trainees to leverage the opportunities which have been provided for them to equip themselves with skills to train others and be employers of labor in no distant time.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Ifite Anam, HRH Igwe Sylvester Nnose commended the group for their interventions to the community and prayed that God Almighty will replenish their source.

Igwe Nnose who was represented by the Onowu Anam, Paul Nduba said the intervention is needful to them and assured that the materials supplied to the community will be put to good use and the benefit of the community.