Anambra charity home seeks help

Jesus Abandoned Charity Organization, Oraifite, Anambra State, houses over 250 inmates having different life challenges ranging from physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental health disabilities.

These impairments affect mobility, physical capacity and cognitive functions, including reasoning, problem-solving, planning, developmental disorder and psychological well-being.

Though disadvantaged, these individuals earnestly desire to live normal lives like other people. They desire to live in good environments, eat good food, acquire education and learn crafts, but they cannot help themselves achieve these goals. They depend on other people, who are not only physically fit, but also rich in material things.

At Jesus Abandoned Charity Organization, these inmates are either trained in formal education or are made to learn crafts and skills. There are, however, others who suffer both physical and mental impirrements. This group depends entirely on others for their wellbeing. All these individuals are housed and cared for at the Home under the propriety of Rev. Fr. Anthony Ananwa, who founded the organization.

However, personal efforts of the Rev. Fr. Anthony Ananwa is not enough to keep the Home afloat.

Recently, when Fr. Ananwa conducted some visitors round the facility in commemoration of 15th anniversary of the organization, he called on governments, churches, non governmental organizations and spirited individuals to support the Home.

Fr. Ananwa explained that the organization, registered in Anambra State in 2012, and federally with the Nigerian government in 2013, is a residential care facility focused on housing, rehabilitating, and empowering neglected, physically challenged, and abandoned children, as well as destitute individuals, and in addition, provides a safe sanctuary and targeted rehabilitation.

He regretted that since its formation, there have not been noticeable support gestures from governments and church organizations towards the running of the Home.

The priest said that because of increasing number of individuals with special needs under its care, coupled with limited accomodation, the Home requires support to expand the facility.

Fr. Ananwa explained: “Population of persons with special needs in our facility is increasing. Oftentimes, families and individuals bring their special needs children and dump them at the entrance gate, forcing us to take them into our facility after getting necessary clearance from relevant authorities.

“In order to ensure that we meet up with our core mandate of providing safe haven for them, we earnestly need to expand our facility. To achieve this, we urgently require N35m to procure additional property behind this Home, in addition to provision of additional solar-powered borehole.

“Governments, individuals, corporate entities and church organizations desiring to assist can contact Fr. Anthony Ananwa at: 07060478404, or visit Jesus Abandoned Charity Home at Umuezopi village, Oraifite, Anambra State, or AA2, Orphanage Avenue, Behind Pantaker at Tipper Garage Junction, Kuje, Abuja, FCT.”