This week the United Nations commemorated World Day against Child Labor. As a core value of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI), founding father, Chris Oyakhilome has held education at the center.
Studies have repeatedly shown a link between poverty and education. Education is a priority for indigent children and can help end the cycle of poverty.
Poverty is one of the greatest driving forces impelling children into the workforce. Statistics show that 152 million children are in child labor, and 72 million are involved in hazardous work. This year’s World Day Against Child Labour is a reminder and an urgent call that children do not belong on the streets but in classrooms.
This year, the theme was: “Universal Social Protection to end Child Labor”. This day calls for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish solid social protection plans that protect children from child labor.
Significant progress towards ending child labor requires increased investment in universal social protection systems, as part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to tackle the problem.
Social protection is both a human right and a powerful tool to prevent families from resorting to child labor in times of crisis.
Government social protection systems are essential to fight poverty and vulnerability and eradicate and prevent child labor.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic left millions of people without incomes, and with the enforced school closures, children were forced to look for possible ways of bringing in some money for their families.
Breaking the cycle of poverty through education
Every child has the right to health, education, and protection, and every society has a stake in expanding children’s opportunities in life. Yet, around the world, millions of children are denied a fair chance for no reason other than the country, gender, or circumstances into which they are born.
Join us to commemorate the “World day against child labor” by sponsoring a child’s education today!
Fulfilling God’s Word
The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) is a faith-based non-governmental, non-political organization under the direction of its visionary and legendary founder, Chris Oyakhilome. Through the promotion and sponsorship of charitable initiatives, COFI was established to help individuals, communities, and nations lead purposeful and productive lives in the service of the Lord.
It, therefore, ties into our core values and culture that we follow the Word of God in fulfilling our duties and obligations in helping others.
It is written in Psalms 82:3-4, “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”
As Christians, we shouldn’t fold our hands and watch the devil wreak havoc in different nations and the lives of men. God expects us to do something about it. Through our various programs and initiatives, we are fulfilling the above scripture in the lives of the disadvantaged in the forgotten places of the world, bringing them the precious gift of salvation and into their inheritance in Christ.
In other programs that fall under the COFI umbrella, the Gospel OutReach Program, (GO2Inc) is an evangelical tool, and one that is intended to spread the Word of God to the inner-cities and reach the poor communities as part of the 7 billion mandate, preparing them for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in turn, providing them with much-needed help.
God delights in prospering people. Poverty in the world is not caused by God, it is caused by men that is why Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor and bring the poor out of poverty. The gospel to the poor means that he would receive a message that God has given him an inheritance and change his position.
Combatting Hunger
Be a hand that reaches out! A smile for those who have no reason to smile! Be a light to those who live in darkness! Show them what it means to truly love! You can be a helping hand with the InnerCity Mission (ICM) to the needy around you by sponsoring meals for them through another COFI and ICM campaign, Hunger Action Month (HAM). This is a month-long global initiative designed to tackle food insecurity. It is also a program that raises awareness of the issues of hunger affecting indigent families and children.
