CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 2017

In furtherance to My Friends and I Network’s objectives, we organised a Christmas party for children at the Vine Heritage Home Foundation in Kuje, FCT, Nigeria on December 24, 2017.

The Vine Heritage home is the largest Orphanage in Abuja, it houses about one hundred and nineteen (119) vulnerable children that were rescued from harmful traditional practices and customs in their communities, some highlighted below.

There are 55 villages within Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kuje, Bwari, and Kwali that quietly engage in the murder of twins; at least 7 twins are killed a month in these local councils;

Twins or multiple births are killed because they are perceived as bad luck;

If a nursing mother dies, the child she is breastfeeding will be buried alive with her. Such a child is perceived as an “evil child” or a “witch”;

“Shaura” is a term used for the method in which these babies would be killed: suffocation or poisoning

After the murder, an altar will be raised in honour of the murdered twin, so they won’t come back.

Albinos are killed within 24 hours of birth. There are no albinos in these villages.

Babies who grow upper teeth first instead of lower teeth are seen as evil and get dumped inside a forest.

It is against these harmful practices that the Vine Heritage Home was set up to create a safe space for the children to thrive.

Our team had an initial visit to the orphanage to ask what the children would like to have as Christmas gifts. The whole idea was to surprise the children by giving them what they had requested for, these gifts varied from foodstuffs, baby food (cereals, formula), beverages, toiletries, school bags, wrist watches, laptops, guitars, bicycles, to toys etc.

For example, a child wrote that he wanted a guitar, and he got it.

On the day of the party, we had a series of activities including dancing competitions, games, miming etc. The children also had a Fulani dance presentation for us.

We also had a mentoring session for the older boys and girls separately, and lest I forget, we had Santa Claus in the building all the way from Rome 😊😊😊.

At the end of these activities, we had the cutting of the cake and then the presentation of gifts… It was an emotional time for both the team and the children.

Tears flowed through their tender eyes as most of them got what they had requested for as Christmas gifts 😊😊😊

The founder, Pastor Olusola Stevens, expressed his profound appreciation to the team for organising such a beautiful event for the children.

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 2018

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

On December 16, 2018, My Friends and I Network reached out to 60 widows from Gishiri village (Opposite NICON Junction).

The event, held at the Nigerian National Merit Award House, Maitama, Abuja, brought together widows and widowers who really needed help.

Pst Deji Adedeji, Pastor of HarvestHouse Christian Centre, gave some words of encouragement and hope to them.

He also prayed for them.

We also had a free medical check-up and counselling session for the attendees.

Food items distributed include: Rice, Beans, Gaari, Groundnut Oil, Tomato Paste, Salt, etc.

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 2019

On 10 December 2019, My Friends and I team reached out to the aged at the Amazing Grace Foundation Old People’s Home in Kado, Abuja.

It’s so sad to know that there’s no provision or policy for old people in Nigeria. The home has made several efforts to ensure that we have a policy guiding their care, but all seems to prove abortive.

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY 2020

We reached out to Ruga community. A few months before our visit, the community was invaded and destroyed by the Military as they were seen as threats.