Fun Times as we wrap up 2021

ChiYoWo – Children, Youth, and Women Empowerment Initiative had a wonderful Christmas Celebration with over 65 people including staff and girls at the Little Saints Orphanage Home Abule Egba, Lagos Nigeria.

Thanks to our volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this a dream come especially for the young girls in the Home despite all odds. Our utmost gratitude goes out to our donors The METO DIGMA, Nigerian Schools Foundation – NSF (UK), and Bisi Gbadebo as everyone had fun. It was truly a day to remember.

Giving back puts smiles on the faces of everyone who makes a difference in the lives of others – no matter how small. Everyone got presents, took part in our Arts and Craft sessions, played musical chairs, had snacks/food, and listened to empowering words from all the Teams in readiness for the New Year!

With uttermost gratitude to God, we also appreciate the Management of the Little Saints Orphanage Home for welcoming us with open hands and giving us the platform to express love, kindness, and encouraging words.

Enjoy our slideshow as much as my Team did and ‘The Meto Digma’ Team who had so much fun and won the musical chairs competition. Thanks again to all our volunteers and donors and may the New Year usher in greater accomplishments for all of you as we continuously strive to give back as best as we can. #gratitude #kindness #givingbackfeelsgood

Viviane Adjado Nigerian Schools Foundation (NSF) UK

Much appreciated,
The ChiYoWo Family

NB: For privacy reasons, we can’t show the faces of the children in the Home.

Spread the Light Campaign!

Talscent, partnered with ChiYoWo and donated 15 high-quality Solar Reading Lamps to some children in Ikorodu as part of their ‘Spread the Light Challenge’. Do you remember earlier in the year when we ran a Pastry Making workshop in Ikorodu and children from a nearby school (Master’s Mind Lead School) attended one session as a day out? Well, they were very eager to learn, attentive, and relayed everything back to their teachers and parents. These Solar Reading Lamps will help them to read and do their homework when they face challenges with electricity supply. Thanks to Esther Temilade and Solarin Wuraola for their continued support and to our donors Talscent the Handmade Scented Candle Company for their donations and we look forward to a great 2022!

Excitement Galore!

We are pleased to announce Kortex the Sanitary Towel company partnership with ChiYoWo to celebrate our young girls.

Thank you Kortex for getting ready to work with us and with our volunteers. All roads lead to La Mascot College in Akute, Ogun State to donate the Pads to our young girls.

Let’s watch this space for more information.

REPORT ON VISIT TO CHIYOWO AND TALSCENT WOMEN EMPOWERMENT BENEFICIARIES (PastryTraining) IGBOGBO IKORODU, LAGOS STATE.

Date: 30/8/21

Prepared by: Temilade

We stopped by the store of  Mrs. Funke, who at a time told us she was waiting to get a show glass before commencing business, happily she already has her show glass and is actively going about her sales. For Mrs. Funke, it was a happy addition to her sales, she is concentrating on the making of Fish rolls, Doughnuts, and Egg rolls. She made us understand how the making of fish rolls has been her strength of which we attested to after having a taste of that particular pastry. She told us of how customers rush her fish rolls, some will even come looking for it when it is not even ready, on our day of the visit, for instance, she said she made about 26 pieces of fish rolls, 17 doughnuts, and 7 egg rolls, as at the time of our visit, she was having only 3 fish rolls left of which she entertained us with two and have to keep one for a customer who already asked for it, she had about 4 egg rolls still remaining and more than 8 doughnuts.

She expressed her appreciation to ChiYoWo and Talscent and well wishes.

Happy International Day of Peace 2021

With love,

ChiYoWo

A Virtual Dialogue: Strengthening youth action in achieving a society free from drug abuse and regaining youth skills post-pandemic

Fancy lifestyles

The fancy lifestyles of some people who
indulge in drug/substance abuse, is
shaping the mindset of the youths
negatively. They now perceive these
activities like the new cool, while
undermining its effect on their health.
However, drug abuse is causing more
harm than good to individuals and the
society at large.

Inasmuch as the society is beginning to
pretend to be unaware of the mental,
the ethical and legal consequence of these
activities, they are dangerous and
self-destructive. Anyone who is aspiring
to live a purpose-driven life should avoid
a drug depending lifestyle.

We celebrate all children across the world. Enjoy!!!

With love from,

ChiYoWo

CPN ADVOCACY VISIT – The Report

27/08/21

Children, Youth and Women Empowerment Initiative (CHIYOWO)

Children Youth and Women (ChiYoWo) Empowerment Initiative is an NGO registered in Nigeria, whose primary focus is to enhance opportunities for disadvantaged children, youth, and women to achieve sustained livelihood.

A lot of our work involves connecting communities, part of which is the Programmatic Intervention on Child Protection and Safety. ChiYoWo has worked with over 30 schools across Nigeria.

As part of our focus area, ChiYoWo works around Child Protection and Safety. Under this program, we provide awareness programs and interventions that promote child protection and safety in Nigeria.

It is no news that child exploitation happens everywhere. Sadly, even in the places where children should feel safe the most, such as schools, homes, and even churches. Unfortunately, children are abused and exploited by people whom they trust, and many times these crimes go unreported as children don’t usually speak up. To ensure protection and safety for children, ChiYoWo is currently advocating for a social system and structure that works for children.

The aim of our meeting with you today is to discuss with you how we can work as a partner to ensure that schools in Lagos state develop and implement a Child Protection Policy drawn from the Lagos State Child Right Law. We believe that when schools implement a Child Protection Policy, the exploitation, and abuse of children will be reduced to a minimum in schools.

It is known that the home and the school are places of primary knowledge and safety for children. Our children should be able to feel safe both at home and in school as they spend a reasonable amount of in school as they do at home.

The issue of children’s rights is poorly defined in legislation and by the courts, partly because many nations have not decided the rights to accord to children. For one to comprehend what a child’s right is, the terms ‘right’ and ‘human rights’ will have to be defined. The term ‘right’ is often used to describe any advantages conferred on a person by a rule of law (Akwara et al., 2010). Rights are those things to which one is entitled or allowed to enjoy. They are freedoms that are guaranteed.

Child rights are basic entitlements every child in the world should be able to enjoy or to have. All children have the same rights. All rights are connected to each other and are equally important. Child’s rights are human rights with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to minors (Amnesty International, no date). They include rights to; association with parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for food, universal state-paid education, health care, and criminal laws appropriate for the age and development of the child. Child’s rights are also rights to equal protection of civil rights and freedom from discrimination on the basis of the child’s race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, etc.

Interpretations of children’s rights range from allowing children the capacity for autonomous action to the enforcement of children being physically, mentally, and emotionally free from abuse, though what constitutes “abuse” is a matter of debate. Freeman (1983) posits that child’s rights are human rights that are wide-ranging and include entitlement to a name and nationality; freedom from discrimination; social security extending to adequate nutrition, housing, recreation, and medical care; entitlement to free education and equal opportunities. They also include protection from all forms of cruelty, neglect, and exploitation and the right to love, understanding, and affection.

As we all know, Child’s Rights Law (CRL) was introduced in Lagos State in 2007. Six years after its domestication, it became imperative to assess the challenges in the application of the justice provisions by different child justice administrators such as social welfare officers, the police, non-governmental organization (NGO) workers, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) lawyers, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), family court judges and magistrates.

In Nigeria, prior to the 2003 Child’s Rights Act, child protection was guided by the Children and Young Persons’ Act (CYPA) 1943, a law relating primarily to juvenile justice. It was promulgated to make provisions for the welfare of the young and the treatment of young offenders and the establishment of Juvenile Courts (Alemika, et al. 2005). There were inadequate guidelines on the interpretation of its provisions. It was interpreted within the larger criminal justice procedural safeguards and constitutional framework (Ogunniran, 2013). Nigerian Government ratified the CRC in March 1991.

Nigeria also ratified other international instruments that generally affect the rights of the child, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Nigeria is also a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. In addition, Nigeria ratified regional instruments such as the African Charter on Human Rights and People’s Rights and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRCW). It is important to note that the protection of human rights in Nigeria is also enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chapter IV contains an elaborated Bill of Rights. Nigeria has two separate codes for penal infractions; one applies to Southern Nigeria (Criminal Code) and the other to Northern Nigeria (Penal Code).

However, while Nigeria is a signatory without reservation to CRC, it was not domesticated and thus had no legal force in Nigeria until 2003 when the Child’s Rights Act (CRA) was enacted. As of today, 26 of the 36 states have adopted the CRA (2003). Lagos State adopted the Act in 2007 and named it the Child’s Rights Law (CRL) (2007). In conformity with one of the CRC’s provisions which states that laws relating to children should be made accessible to them, Lagos State has simplified the Law and presented it in several quick forms. The rights protected by and provided for in this law cover the broad areas of social, economic, and civil rights. The CRL is primarily concerned with four aspects of children’s rights (“the four ‘P’s”): participation by children in decisions affecting them; protection of children against discrimination and all forms of neglect and exploitation; prevention of harm to them; and provision of assistance for their basic needs.

Under the Lagos State Law, children have the right to Life, survival, and balanced development; a name and registration at birth; dignity and respect; privacy, family life and parental care, protection, and maintenance. They have the right to free and compulsory primary education and encouragement of secondary and tertiary education; health and health services; leisure, recreation, and cultural activities.

Children also have the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly; freedom of religion with the necessary guidance of their parents; and freedom from discrimination. Children are also protected from child marriage and betrothal; tattoos and skin marks; exploitative labor (except non-harmful labor within the family); sale, hire or use for the purpose of hawking, begging for alms, or prostitution and sexual abuse. The paramount consideration in enacting laws for these purposes is “the best interests of the child,” a standard echoed throughout legal instruments on children’s rights.

Children, on the other hand, have responsibilities under the law, to respect their parents; work towards the cohesion of their families and communities. They are to contribute positively to society; and respect the ideals of democracy, equality, honesty, and justice for all. Parents and guardians are to provide care; maintenance; proper upbringing; education; guidance; and discipline for children.

Additionally, the State should provide medical and health care; adequate nutrition and safe drinking water, hygienic and sanitized environments. It also has the duty to combat diseases and malnutrition; support and mobilize the development of primary healthcare for children through local and community resources. Other duties of the State include the provision of accommodation, maintenance and/or financial support, advice, and other services to children and their families.

However, for a successful implementation of the law, there should be cooperation among all stakeholders implementing it. Their responsibilities should be spelled out and they should be educated on the law and children’s rights.

To this end, we would love to work with schools in Lagos state with your support to establish these child laws, sensitize both the children and teachers, ensuring a safe abode for these children.

A Report on the just concluded 3 days Women Empowerment Initiative on Pastry – Making at Igbogbo, Ikorodu. Lagos State.

In Attendance:

ChiYoWo’s Team

Mr. Onyeka

Ms. Gold

Ms. Esther

Ms. Ibukun (Instructor)

Training:

The training took off at exactly 12:15 pm on Thursday, 15th of July, 2021 with Ibukun as the Instructor and the women present.

On Day 1 of the training (15/7/21), the women were taught how to make EGG ROLLS, PUFF PUFF, and DOUGHNUTS.

It was an interactive session as the women and the instructor were able to work together in making the 3 different pastries.

On Day 2 of the training (16/7/21), the women were taught how to make SMALL CHOPS (Samosa, spring rolls, puff puff & pepper gizzard), CHIN CHIN, and FISH ROLLS. It was a collective effort of both the women and their instructor.

At the end of day 2, the women were grouped into 3 for a practical session the following day, where each group will make something from what they have been taught.

On Day 3 of the training (17/7/21), the women were able to showcase some of the things they have learned in groups. They were taught how to market their businesses and also manage their finance.

During the course of the training, it was observed that the women were really happy with what they are learning as some of them were already getting prospective customers for their products.

The interest shown by the women was of great encouragement to their instructor and the Chiyowo team at large.

At the end of the 3 days training, the women were awarded certificates of participation and also given seed money as start-up cash flow for their business.

After the training, the women agreed to put all they have learned to practice, not just for their own personal use but also for business purposes as that’s the main driver of the Project, to empower women in these tough times.

We Chiyowo and Talscent are truly thankful! One of the women kicked off her business the week following the training. It was a great height of joy for ChiYoWo and Talscent and an encouragement to other women.

ChiYoWo will be monitoring the growth process of the women for the next 3 months. We would journey along with them through weekly phone calls and monthly visits to help them through the first step to growth and evaluate their process.