2 NGOs partner to empower children amputees, raise awareness on inclusion

By Fabian Ekeruche

The Irede Foundation (TIF) is partnering with the UPS Foundation to empower children amputees with prosthetic limbs and to raise awareness on inclusive education.

This is contained in a statement signed by Vindication Joseph, Programmes Associate, TIF, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

TIF said that the empowerment was part of its ongoing effort to educate 10,000 children on disability and to empower 200 child amputees with prosthetic limbs,

The Foundation said that its partnership with UPS Foundation had already led to the empowerment of three child amputees with prosthetic limbs, so that they could go back to school.

“Three child amputees who lost their limbs due to various accidents were selected as beneficiaries of this project to enable them get back to school and live life to the fullest.

“The three Lagos-based Champions – Nwachukwu Precious, Hammed Karimat and Miracle Chukwu – left the Irede office with so much excitement with their hopes renewed,” the foundation said.

The foundations simultaneously took the disability inclusion campaign to 2,000 children enrolled in four government schools in Lagos.

It listed the schools as Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu; Anthony Village High School; Opebi Grammar School and Unity Secondary School, Oshodi, Lagos.

It said that relying on the importance of social integration for children with disabilities, the second arm of the project used the TIF’s disability awareness comic book “IREDIANS” to educate the students.

The foundation said that the school-based awareness activity sought to increase disability knowledge and awareness, as well as to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in these schools.

It said that the activities would also trigger positive attitudinal and behavioural change towards children with disability.

“The project is borne out of the need to help child amputees live independent and limitless lives as well as educate young ones about disability.

“We are grateful to the Lagos State Ministry of Education, the education school districts and school administrators for their support towards the successful implementation of the project,’’ the foundation said.

It called for the inclusion of children with disabilities across all schools, so that the number of out-of-school children as a result of disability could be brought to the barest minimum.

The IREDE Foundation (TIF) is a Non-Governmental Organisation focused on encouraging children living with limb loss (either acquired or congenital) to live a life of fulfillment.

While the UPS Foundation is a NGO focused on improving the well-being of people and communities by tapping into its partnerships and innovative logistical expertise to deliver health and humanitarian solutions for underserved and impacted communities.

The UPS Foundation, with headquarters in the United States of America, invests in global communities with cash grants, in-kind support and passionate volunteers.

(NAN)