Children and managers of Shalom Community Orphanage at Ikpa Town in Esit Eket LGA of Akwa Ibom State have appealed to government agencies, organisations and public-spirited persons to come to their aid as hunger stairs them in the face.
The 14-year old orphanage popularly called James 1:27 Orphanage, established on January 15, 2008, currently has about 50 either orphaned or abandoned children.
Bishop and Deaconess Evan Udoeakisong who established the centre said they had been spending their personal income to cater for the children with little assistance from the public, but that the current hardship in the society has made it extremely difficult to effectively continue with that humanitarian calling.
According to the Udoekaisongs, the home is currently having serious economic challenges, even as they express their appreciation to the government, organisations and individuals for their visits, which they said ‘have been going a long way to sustain the inmates.’
They said with the current challenges, the home is in dire need of food, clothing, medical care and education support for the children.
The proprietors of the home said the welfare, growth, and development of the children are dependent on their efforts along with the people who work there.
‘The development and welfare of the children are also dependent on the good people to some extent who make donations of their time and money. The home would not have existed without donations. A number of children would have been forced to live miserable lives in foster homes or in the streets. Nothing can be sadder than a child living in abusive and squalid conditions.
‘No child of this home has ever been abused, maltreated or defiled because the orphanage is managed by true Christians,’ Bishop Udoekaisong said.
‘It’s hard! We rely on donations from groups and individuals. While we remain grateful for these gestures, they do not, however, come close to meeting our needs in feeding the children and school provisions,’ he lamented.
The founders of the orphanage said they were however grateful, not because of the millions they have in their banks, ‘but for the fact that over these years, God has used us to remove the stigma attached to the orphan by creating leverage that has promoted equality among the over 50 orphans and their peers all over the world.
‘But, how do the over 50 children survive, especially, with the current biting economic situation in the country?,’ the founders lamented.
‘We are in need of funds for general maintenance of the home, cooking and eating utensils as well as computers, sewing/weaving machines and driers to furnish the skill acquisition centre.’
They appealed to those who could not make it to the place but wish to assist with cash, to use Wema Bank Account Number: 0225100655 payable in the name of Bishop Evans T. Udoekaisong, even as the home could be reached on phone number 09023800642, 0810-131-0071, and with an email address: ev_thompson@yahoo.com.
Source:THE SUN
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