A non-governmental organisation, Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF) has distributed food items to 180 vulnerable children, widows and the elderly in Kaduna communities, as part of measures to cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the beneficiaries.
The intervention is targeted at uplifting women and orphans as well as other vulnerable people in Kaduna communities.
The deputy director, HVCF, Rev Sr. Juliana Ekwoanya during the distribution of the food items on Friday at the HVCF centre said the foundation is poised to reduce hardship created by the economic crisis in the country.
Sr. Ekwoanya explained that the intervention would tackle immediate hardship, foster a sense of solidarity and compassion within the communities.
“With the economic downturn in recent times, removal of fuel subsidies, we have observed that things are hard for people within the communities. Many of them can barely feed two times a day. So, we targeted 150 vulnerable people but 180 turned out, because people are going through a lot.
“It is out of our core values that we put smile on the faces of children. And looking at hardship in the country, many people are hungry. A lot of children come to our facility with malnourishment. We targeted 150 children but we have 180. When you invite people to come and collect foodstuffs, more will come because the hardship is too much.
“Our targets are orphans, widows and the less privileged within the communities,” Ekwoanya said.
According to her, most of the beneficiaries are from displaced communities.
“Most of the children here are from displaced communities, we see them squatting with family members, relatives in either Maraban rido, Kasuwa Magani, Janruwa, Sabo and its environs,” she said.
She however, disclosed that the food items worth N3.5million were given out.
Responding, one of the beneficiaries, Naomi Yusuf, applauded the initiative and called on other organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate the gesture by lifting the less privileged in the hard times.
Another beneficiary, a 13-year old Christable Sunday thanked HVCF, saying that the food items will go a long way.
The items distributed include 20 bags of 50kg rice, 8 bags of 120kg beans, bags of salt, onions, cartoons of sachets tomatoes, clothes and shoes.
