Helping each other can make our world better!
Oshimiri foundation is a non-profit organization that has been actively committed to serving the community of Oshimiri foundation considers women and children particularly girls as the vulnerable in the community and it is not only heavily vested in championing causes that protect their interests but also dedicated to bettering their lives. We understand that empowering a woman/girl, means transforming our community. A popular saying acknowledges that “educating a woman, means educating a nation”. This change is envisaged to have a positive ripple effect in helping shape and develop our community.
Our aim is to eradicate gender inequality and other forms of discriminatory practices against women and children. We have particular interest in reducing early-drop-out of girls from school. The girls become victims of child trafficking popularly known as “born-to-sell”. They raise money for their families through early engagement in sexual activities leading to pregnancies targeted to give birth to babies that will eventually be sold.
It is a general belief that the boy-child will marry and carry on the father’s lineage while the girl-child is married off. Investing in a girl’s education is therefore seen as a waste of resources. These girls grow up to become women with families, having no viable source of income to raise their families.
Our target is to empower the women and girls especially through creation of awareness about these challenges, issuing scholarships to encourage enrollment of children in school, creating vocational jobs for women and improving the healthcare conditions of women with particular attention to the pregnant women and widows. Efforts have been made to reduce the child trafficking trade through housing the girls involved in this wicked and inhumane trade, taking care of them until they give birth to their babies. They are encouraged to go back to school or get a vocational trade through the support of the foundation.
Oshimiri foundation is presently run by Prince Ike Anigwe, the son of …, former king of .. The foundation was inspired by his father’s act of kindness towards the people of his community. The late king was known for paying school fees for the people who couldn’t afford them particularly girls because of his interest in girl’s/women’s education. Story had it that he loves to sit under a mango tree close to girl’s secondary school, on the look out for students that will be sent home for not paying school fees. He not only pays that tuition needed at the time but also at other times to ensure they continue to remain in school. He was a visionary leader that wanted to eradicate poverty from his community through helping the vulnerable, especially widows and children. The late king was popular for his love for children, so much so the children were allowed to take seats in his palace before the elders. In the traditional Igbo setting, the elders should be seated first before the children. He believed the younger ones are the ones to carry on the legacy of his kingdom. He usually jokes that children are the ones to dig the grave and carry the caskets of the elders. He believed these reasons demand that they be given respect accordingly. He was loved by his kinsmen because of the many acts of kindness he showed his people particularly the women and children. He shared on countless occasions food like rice, meat and condiments to his people in a bid to eradicate hunger.
The late king welcomed all and sundry so much so he didn’t think it necessary to have a lock to the gate of his residence. All were welcome. He built a house with 12 rooms, each room containing 4 bunk beds solely to accommodate people that need help. At the time of his death, he was catering for over 60 people including granting them scholarships to further their education. His wife…, the mother of Prince Ike Anigwe took over these responsibilities until her demise in ….
Apple, they say does not fall far from it’s tree. Prince Ike Anigwe took inspiration from his father’s kindness to his people and became heavily vested in various philanthropic work in his community just like his father. He has issued scholarships over the years to school children to ensure children, especially girls, remain in school. This reduced the number of girls that fall victims to child traffickers (“born-to-sell”) scheme. He organizes a popular Christmas party for the community to celebrate his people annually. During these joyous occasions, the members of the community are shared various types of food and condiments like rice, noodle, beans, meat, tomatoes etc. It is also a time of appreciation and fostering unity of the community.
Prince Ike Anigwe derives joy and fulfillment from seeing his people prosper but there is a limit to what one person can do. He hopes to partner with volunteers in various capacities to help to continue positive change to his community.