September 14, (THEWILL) – The wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor and founder, Family Empowerment and youth Reorientation Path-initiative, (FEYReP) Dr Martha Emmanuel has planned to build at least one ‘shelter of hope’ for a selected indigent family across the 31 local government areas of the State before the end of 2023.
The FEYReP Coordinator, Ime Inyangeyen who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, at her office in Ewet housing Uyo, Akwa Ibom State said the NGO has already built 56 houses for indigent homes in the State, though not in all the local governments in the State.
She said the idea was to add value to the lives of indigent families in the State.
According to her, “the last count of our shelter of hope is about 56. This programme is not about politics but a social programme that would add value to the lives of these indigent ones in our communities.
We usually get goodwill because apart from our international partners, there are some local partners in the communities who do indicate interest in what we do, especially in our ‘shelter of hope.’
“They will support us by saying: ‘I want you to erect this structure for two or more families in my community.’ That is why in some communities or local governments, you see more than one shelter of hope in the area.
“Our plan is that by 2023, we must have provided one shelter of hope in the 31 local government areas of the State. So far so good we are almost there and we trust God that He that has helped us to go this far will continue to provide for us and our partners.”
On the criteria for selection of beneficiaries Mrs InyangEyen said, the team storms any community selected and takes pictures of dilapidated houses inhabited by vulnerable and poor families, thereafter, would pick a house that fits into the parameters for selection.
“Most times when you go to a community, you’ll see over three families that are almost homeless, after our investigations we begin to use our criteria to eliminate till the very time you make the selection that fits in most. Actually we would have loved to build for all but our scarce resources would not allow us to do so.
“The challenge is that some community members may level allegations of favoritism or selective choices but at the end of the day they will know that we don’t even know the people we are building for.
”We made it a policy that you don’t recommend anybody. We cut across both widows, widowers and indigent homes/families
We have partners and we know that they will continue to support us beyond this administration as long as we remain committed as we are now We have ensured we have put down structures that will sustain this beyond 2023.”
Speaking on the issue of gender based violence especially on rape and defilement which the organization is campaigning against, Mrs InyangEyen urged mothers to pay more attention to their girl children and not to relegate certain responsibilities to care-givers, relatives or fathers.
“Mothers out there should ensure that their children are protected and cared for, they should pay attention to their girl children.
These days we have house helps, relatives raping/defiling children.
“Parents should redefine child upbringing and training so that we will be able to curtail some of the things that are happening to our children, else, we lose them.” The Coordinator said.
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