‘How to deepen youth empowerment’

Partnerships with corporate bodies and individuals is one of the ways to deepen youth empowerment and banish the menace of poverty and its accompanying social vices, a group, Together Inspiring Kindness Family (THICC Family), has said.

The group, which is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on youth empowerment and comprises professionals from various parts of the world, said it is shifting its focus towards sustainable empowerment, particularly for the youth, to prevent political manipulation and social vices.

A member of the group, Mr Mogaji Adewumi Christopher, who spoke in Lagos on the sideline of reaching out to youths during the Yuletide, said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor during the festive period.

“We intend to impact teenagers and youths through vocational training and empowerment. When people are stabilized and can stand on their own, they cannot be easily manipulated by politicians.

“We have seen cases where as little as N20,000 can start a business for someone in need. If we can get more support from the government and private sector, we intend to reach as many as 20,000 people in the coming years,” Christopher said.

The group said it has targeted no fewer than 1,000 less privileged persons for its outreach.

Also speaking on the occasion, the group’s coordinator, Mr Samuel Adelaja, said  the initiative, which has been running for five years, was funded through the personal contributions of members and friends.

Adelaja said while the group had already reached hundreds of beneficiaries across different locations, the goal for the current year was to impact 1,000 lives.

“We have programs rolled out throughout the year, but this particular one is unique because we are extending it to different parts of the country beyond Lagos State.

“Our aim is to reach out to the less privileged who are wondering what they will eat during this festive season.  We want to encourage others to show kindness so that the world can be a better place,” Adelaja said.

A beneficiary of the scheme, Mrs Fatou Bangura, shared a testimony of how the group transformed her life with a N300,000 business grant after she was displaced from her home.

“They met me when I had nothing and was looking for help. They gave me money to start a business; I now sell clothes and can afford to rent a house.

“I want to appeal to them to focus more on ‘handwork’ (vocational training) for street teenagers. Money can be spent, but a skill is forever,” Bangura said.

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Providing security at the event, a police officer from the Okokomaiko Division, Mr Balogun Richard, commended the organizers for the orderly conduct of the exercise.

“What they are doing is amazing because not everyone has the heart to give like this. We were sent here to ensure security, and I am happy to report that everything went smoothly.

“If initiatives like this continue, the people will be happier and the society more peaceful,” he stated.