Humanitarian Action Conference to Address Eradication of Poverty with Chris Oyakhilome Foundation

The Humanitarian Action Conference 2020 (HAC), organized by InnerCity Mission, under the auspices of Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI), is a major convening of all critical players and stakeholders in the humanitarian and development sector. It is an avenue to come together, review and develop, realistic actionable strategies to address the issue of poverty in a sustainable way. The theme of this maiden edition of the InnerCity Mission (ICM) 2020 Humanitarian Action Conference is:” Eradicating Poverty: Rethinking the Strategy”. There is no better time to plan for the future than now! The conference is to be held on the 17^th of October which commemorates the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, a day recognized by the United Nations.

 

The purpose of these International days are to educate and enlighten the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. “Global poverty is one of the very worst problems that the world faces today, confirmed Chris Oyakhilome, the poorest in the world are often hungry, have much less access to education, regularly have no light at night, and suffer from much poorer health”. To make progress against poverty is therefore one of the most urgent global goals.

 

The Role of the InnerCity Mission

 

The guest speaker at this maiden event will be Reverend Tom Amenkhienan, chairman of the board of directors of the InnerCity Mission for Children. The InnerCity Mission carries out Humanitarian Relief, under the auspices of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) in collaboration with other member agencies of the foundation. Through this, they provide humanitarian aid to victims of crisis, affected by natural and manmade disasters such as wars, health crises and other emergency situations around the world.

 

The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI), faith- based, non- governmental, non- political organization was founded by Chris Oyakhilome, to help individuals, communities and nations lead purposeful and productive lives. Poverty is a concept intrinsically linked to welfare. The same international organizations that set the poverty line made it a global goal to end extreme poverty. Goal number one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed on by all nations in the world, is the “eradication of extreme poverty for all people everywhere”.

 

InnerCity Mission which was started in December 2004 after the Founder, Rev Dr Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.), the President of LoveWorld Inc, made a profound statement “Every Child is your Child”, believes in the future of indigent children and taking action to reach and meet their needs is one of core motivations.

 

Over the years, the programs and interventions in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have impacted the lives of millions of indigent beneficiaries mostly children around the world in underserved, hard-to-reach communities.

 

 

The Humanitarian Volunteer Network plays a vital part

 

The Humanitarian Volunteer Network (HVN) is a global network of Christian social and development experts, practitioners, and students committed to delivering psychosocial solutions to indigent children and families in nations in crisis and deprived communities around the world, under the umbrella of the InnerCity Mission. The aim of the network is to pool and utilize skills in Humanitarian Aid, Social work, Public service and other fields to achieve the goal of the InnerCity Mission for Children to reach indigent children and families globally.

 

Orphanage Support is one of our core programs at the InnerCity Mission for Children. For many orphanages, volunteers ensure that basic amenities such as food are available to feed indigent children. Motivated by this need, HVN volunteer, Zoe Ochwango, raised and distributed food parcels to Children’s Garden Home and School, Kawangware, a low-income residential area in Nairobi, Kenya. 70 children benefited from this benevolent act and it was indeed a fun and inspiring time for the children and volunteers.

 

 

HVN volunteer, Ayomikun Somefun, has always felt the need to play a part in reducing the poverty index in the world with particular attention towards children as they are the most vulnerable ones. He believes one of the ways to tackle the menace called hunger is by getting people in his circle involved in helping the poor. This passion has been a driving force that periodically motivates Ayomikun to organize special programs to help the poor. On the occasion of his birthday, he and his friends took the opportunity to raise and distribute food parcels to indigent families and households in Bada community, Agbo Ile, Lagos. This benevolent act reached 100 households, bringing hope and joy to these families.

 

 

Beyond classroom learning, skill acquisition and vocational training present an important mode of education, especially for the indigent. HVN volunteer Blessing Okere identified 30 indigent children in Dopemu community, Lagos, Nigeria who are yet to return back to school and taught them soap making and catering. It was a fun and exciting time of learning, helping them to acquire useful skills that can be put to productive and profitable use.

 

 

All around the world, there are families that have been financially hit by the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown, making their current state worse than the former. Children from these homes might never return to school but we have taken the initiative to ensure no child is left behind by sending 100,000 indigent children #BacktoSchool HVN volunteer, Dolapo Ipiniwa, and her team identified one of such families in Guyana, South America and organized a fundraiser to sponsor Nehia and Ezekiel John’s tuition fees.

 

How Can You Help?

 

Register for the Humanitarian Action Conference today at: https://icm.ngo/hac #EndChildPovertyNow #EveryChildIsYourChild #HACConference

 

At the InnerCity Mission for children, anyone can use the opportunity to gift their special days to reach indigent children and families in your local community. Sign up today to join the fastest growing volunteer network: hvn.theinnercitymission.ngo

 

Join our partners and volunteers as we make the #BacktoSchoolinitaitve a reality in your country. By using the link: https://icm.ngo/backtoschool you can make a donation.