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By Bolaji Okunola
A non governmental organisation, The Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre, in collaboration with Freedom Fund, a United States based nonprofit organisation, has declared readiness to alleviate the plight of child domestic workers in Lagos State.
This was revealed during the foundation’s initiative which aimed to end modern slavery and convening a network of stakeholders to work collaboratively towards shared objectives, multiplying their resources, impact and influence.
Project Lead, Damilola Adenusi; Executive Director, Community Women’s Right Foundation, Ambassador Lateef Akinborode; Child Protection Specialist, Bisi Ajayi Kayode, and Coordinator, Child Protection Network, Lagos, Mrs. Aderonke Oyelakin, among others, proffered solutions during an interactive session at the event held last week, in Ikeja, Lagos.
Addressing the guests, Project Lead, Damilola Adenusi explained the real victory against child abuse lies in the consistent and collective actions of the society. He, however, said every individual has a role to play in safeguarding children while promising that the foundation won’t relent in its core objectives.
He said: “Our institution is an initiative set to respond to child domestic workers. Essentially, we have put in place programmes to protect and to respond to children’s cry. We are tasked to react to the issues of child abuse across Lagos State, using several platforms and creating awareness, such as sensitisation programems. We also respond to cases by providing shelter for those who have nowhere to stay, linking them to legal and other social services. We also come to their rescue by giving them psychotherapy and other initiatives. All our core values will linger till we get the rightful result.
“We also urge others to join us in curbing this act, for we can’t do it all alone without support from government and individuals. I can also assure you all hands are on deck to ensure our dream comes true,” he stated.
In a similar vein, Mrs. Kayode stated that the gathering was to strategise on ideology capable of putting an end to hazardous work children went through in the society. She, however, highlighted that the foundation has done some market and social media awareness campaigns, in their bid to put an end to the unwanted activities.
She further stressed that the foundation has an active child protection law in their quest to strike a balance.
“Cece Yara is a non-governmental outfit set up to table awareness services for children. We’re here to deliberate and strategise on ways to eliminate child domestic workers in Lagos. As we all know, some kids are suffering in silence, and most of them have been placed on hazardous work that injures their mental health. We think it’s time we strategise to put an end to this. We’ve done several campaigns in market areas and social media, and we’re glad the level of ignorance has greatly reduced. We’re also going to activate a child protection law in our quest to strike a balance, for this will facilitate access to justice,” she stated.
