Fair Life for African Children by Fair Life Africa.

Fair Life Africa Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria.  They operate through the establishment of social initiatives which alleviate oppression by ‘empowering people for a fairer life…‘

Through their first initiative, Care Continuity Challenge, they are supporting children, who have made the streets home, to be reconciled with their family and to have a better, more productive life. 

The three names represent three stages in the Initiative.  Care is about reaching out and showing love by providing basic necessities; Continuity is about securing stability for each child, through reconciliation; Challenge is about addressing the long term needs of the child, who cannot be reconciled.  Limited capacity means that only Care and Continuity are in operation currently, while more resources are sought to develop the Challenge Division.

At FLA Respite Home in Lekki, Lagos, they support 12 children per time through a short-term rehabilitation programme, which addresses their care and continuity needs.  These five words explain simply what they do through the CCC Respite Programme:

• Rescue – Children are given an alternative to and in many ways rescued from the dangers of street living;
• Rehabilitation – They are taught new ways of coping, which are not harmful to themselves and others;
• Restoration – They are reminded of their potential and the child in them is nourished;
• Reconciliation – They are reconnected with family members, who are counseled and encouraged;
• Reintegration – The child is empowered with education, vocational and/or life skills, and their family is supported.

They recently had a graduation party for the FLA Kids and their reunification with their families on the 27^th of July, 2013. Seven of the children’s families were present to celebrate their children’s reconciliation and to receive them back officially from the organisation, in the presence of Police Officers from the Juvenile Welfare Centre (JWC), and representatives from the Ministry of Youth Sports and Social Development (MYSSD) and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

Many well-wishers and notable sponsors of the Initiative attended to witness the day’s activities.  The CEO of Lafarge, Mr Joseph Hudson, came with his family, bearing gifts (books and clothes) as well as two new desktop computers for FLA.  He had been around in December to play with the boys and knew them well.  He gave a farewell speech to all the boys encouraging them to press on and not to return to the streets.

Mrs Ufuoma Emerhor-Ashogbon (Chief Executive Officer of FLA) gave a short Send Forth Message with the theme ‘God’s Love’.  She used the drama presentation given by the FLA Kids on the ‘Prodigal Son’ to illustrate her point.  Her message was simple: “We have a reason to celebrate”, because what was lost was now restored, and we should forgive and be happy.  The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, and Mr John Onojeharho (a founding Trustee) were also on seat.  Olorogun presented the children with their awards for good behaviour, and Mr Onojeharho gave the closing remarks.

Tosin Jegede, another child star and now philanthropist whose organisation is currently running the 1Child1Book Initiative, also came with books and gifts for each of the boys.

Each of the families were given large bags filled with food provisions, as they left to return to their homes with their children.  Some of the families showed their appreciation and thanked Fair Life Africa Foundation.  Fair Life Africa will continue to follow up on these children, and sponsor their next academic year as they return home to live and study.  Families are also supported reasonably, to enable them to stand empowered so that they can continue to look after their children, and contribute their quota to society.