Project Menstruation amidst
COVID-19
Girls for Development Goals Foundation have taken initiative
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world to support vulnerable girls
with Sanitary Kits in commemoration of the Menstrual Hygiene Day. It is
important to note that while the government of the world declared a Global
Lockdown to keep people indoors, our bodies didn't go into a
"lockdown", Menstruation continues. Our initial plan for 2020 was to
distribute 50,000 Reusable Sanitary Pads to girls to keep them in school during
their periods; the global pandemic disrupted this plan. However we have decided
to Take Action as the theme for the Menstrual Hygiene Day 2020.
Bearing in mind that this is a decade of action towards the
actualization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we're
working on distributing Sanitary Kits (consisting Sanitary Pads and nose masks
amongst others) to selected vulnerable girls in communities of both Delta and Kebbi
(Southern & Northern Nigeria) States of Nigeria.
This will take place from the months of July till the end of
the year depending on how much support we get. We can't do this without you.
COVID-19 doesn't stop periods, we continue to take action to ensure the girl
child bleeds happily.
Recent Event
Name of event: Menstruation amidst covid-19
Date of event: 27 August 2020
Location: Government Girls Secondary School Kalgo, Kebbi
state
Number of person in attendance: 150 students
Sponsoring organizations: Benny & Freddy Limited, Angel
Pad
Project summary
One the 27th August, Girls for Development Goals Foundation
sponsored the MENSTRATION AMIDST COVID-19, which focused on creating awareness
on Menstrual Hygiene for school girls in Kalgo LGA of Kebbi state, Nigeria.
The awareness was opened to the public and approximately 170
people were in attendance. During the program guests and speakers shared
information to the girls about menstruation and how to stay safe during the Covid-19
Pandemic.
Alhaji Dallatun Kalgo, representative of Girls for
Development Goals Foundation, hosted the events. Welcome remark was taken by
Pharm Firdausi Shayau. MLS Jennifer
Eseoghene, Dr. Saratu Kalgo was on ground during the activity. The principal of
GGSS, Kalgo LGA, staff and teachers were present.
The key note speaker Dr. Saratu Kalgo and Angel pad
representative Mr. Jamilu Aliyu spoke about menstrual hygiene and the use of
sanitary pads and nose masks in times like this.
During the day, the nose masks and pads were handed over to
the school principal who thereafter distributed to the girls. The chairman Kalgo
LGA, Hon Shamsu Faruk, spoke also about the importance of this kind of
program together with the rep. District head of Kalgo, Barr. Farida Muhammad.
The principal of the college gave a vote of thanks to the
organization and representatives. The students also expressed their thanks and
happiness after receiving the gifts.
WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO
Girl for Development Goals Foundation is a non-governmental,
non-partisan and non-profit organization founded in 2016. It first operated
with the name "Girls Health and Education Foundation" until 19th
December, 2019 where we became fully registered with the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC).
Born out of the need to impact communities through
development projects, the foundation is an initiative of former Pharm.
Benedicta Chukwuyem Uweru now Pharm. Benedicta Chukwuyem Apuamah, a young
Pharmacist and an active Global Leader.
The foundation focuses on projects around the following
thematic areas: Sexual Reproductive Health (SRHR), Teenage Pregnancy, Menstrual
Hygiene, Nutrition, Education and Capacity Development.
With an awesome pool of volunteers working with the
management staff and team leads, we have implemented a number of impactful
community development projects that engaged community, religious and academic
leaders.
MISSION
To impact the next
generation through the utilization of technology and creative cutting-edge campaigns
to make the world a better place.
VISION
To build healthy
minds & development focused girls who will in turn build our Nation while
promoting and acting towards the achievement of UN SDGs
MOTTO
Making the Girl child
live with an impact.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
1. To promote and develop with cutting edge & creative
approaches. Public awareness and social media campaigns to give visibility to
the advocacy in thematic areas (Health/Menstrual Hygiene, Teenage pregnancy,
Nutrition Education, etc.).
2. To help in advancing public policy that protects the
dignity and rights of girls, especially those from vulnerable communities.
Also, to advocate for the educational and social improvement and constitutional
rights of the girl child in Nigeria.
3. To partner with Individuals, Cooperate Bodies, Government
and Non-Governmental Organizations to promote our advocacy towards the reduction
of societal ills associated with the thematic areas. Help increase literacy
level amongst the under privileged in the rural areas.
4. To assist in empowering youths & teenagers with
skills that makes them employable especially in the developmental areas. Also
develop hands - on research based development programs to provide girls with
relevant skills and knowledge that will help improve their educational
performance.
5. To work with and liaise with policy makers to provide
legislations and innovative that will increase the opportunities for the girl
child in all areas of the society.
6. To stimulate training programs and encourage development
and empowerment by awarding scholarships to less privileged children especially
the girl child.
7. Provide a platform to assist women and young girls in
accessing available resources, grants and support system.
8. Provide free medical and health service and enlightenment
to young girls, women, orphans, children and less privileged.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Benedicta Chukwuyem Uweru-Apuamah is a Bachelor of Pharmacy
Degree holder who is passionate about working the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). She was a ONE Champion (2017 & 2018) at ONE.org in Nigeria. She
represented ONE in Nigeria & Africa at the ONE Youth Summit in Brussels
where her presentation earned her a standing ovation from ONE CEO &
President, Gayle Smith & other Youth Ambassadors across Europe. Her dream
workplace is the UN; she considers this a platform to impact her community better.
She continues to impact lives by volunteering with other
organizations such as the medical outreach (May 2018) with the Moses Lake Medical
Team (from the US) in Kebbi State, Nigeria. She's a 2019 WYSE ILP Brazil
Alumni being the only Nigerian Delegate at a training that gathered 26 participants
across 16 countries of the world in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Jan 6th to 17th 2019).
She was a Chairperson at the just concluded Tanzania International Model UN
Conference 2019 and continues to develop herself.
She is the Director on the board of Benny&Freddy, a
Private Liability Company that produces Reusable Sanitary Pads & offers a
variety of services. She organized the Youth Voices Conference in commemoration
of the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference in Kebbi State, August
28th, 2019. She also spoke at the Youth Empowerment and Development Conference
in Abuja, Nigeria where she engaged young people on how to Access International
Platforms. She is currently the only female Nigerian ambassador for the Young
Political Leadership School Africa representing Nigeria at the 6th semester
in Monrovia, Liberia, October 2019.
She was the youngest speaker at the just concluded "Our Girls Our Pride" project
organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Delta State. Her work with the
foundation has earned her a place at the 2020 Global Engagement Summit in
Illinois, Chicago. She has been at various international high level meetings and
currently working with JDPC Issele-Uku as Program Manager on the CDC funded
FASTER Project.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
1. Apuamah Fredrick
Azuka
He seats as the Chairman of the Board. He possesses
excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, these he gathered
from a variety of working experiences. From speaking at religious and corporate
gatherings to managing individuals and organizations. He also possesses good
people management skills, having managed over 400 workers as a Safety Officer
with the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in Kogi
State, Nigeria.
He achieved zero injuries throughout his 7months contract
job with the CCECC. His managerial skills have been tested through and through.
He's managed Hotel 365, Pearl Dental Clinic and Alphonso Hospital all in
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
2. Oritseweyinmi
Erikowa-Orighoye
Also known as Dr. Weyoms is a Communications & Research
Specialist passionate about problem solving, conflict resolution, and personal
development. With over 7 years of experience in the academia, she developed a
love for helping the youth find ways to develop themselves professionally and
personally through their education, environment, and more importantly their
spiritual lives.
As a Pediatrician with interests in environmental and public
health, she has conducted several researches in public health focused on nutrition
and physical activity among children in Nigeria. She has a Doctor of Medicine degree
from Dnepropetrovsk State Medical Academy, Ukraine, MRes in Pediatrics from Odessa
State Medical University, Ukraine which qualifies her as a Pediatrician and an
early career researcher.
Furthermore, she has taught Masters from University of Sanford,
UK in Occupational Safety, Health and Wellbeing. She is currently doing a PhD
in Nutrition and Dietetics at Leeds Becker University, UK. Currently, she is
the director of health programs in a non-governmental organization called
Coastal and Marine Areas Development Initiative (CMADI).
Oritseweyinmi enjoys planning and organizing sustainable
development projects in health, education, and environment. As an individual
very passionate about gender, leadership, career development, and inclusivity,
Dr. Weyoms has also helped youths plan and organize their community development
projects in different parts of Nigeria.
3. Neil McCluskey
Neil has over 20 years of experience and is a Co-Founder of
Total Quest; He is a seasoned Project Manager within and outside the country.
He majored in Finance and accounting, has a masters in Project Management and
an MBA. He is also an MCSE NT4 and Windows 2003 qualified. He is Prince 2, PMP
and Six Sigma trained.
He is fluent in 4 languages and also has a working knowledge
of Spanish. Over the past 15 years he has held a number of various post, from
Financial Controller for a Syrian based Hotel chain, to a financial systems
analyst for an International airport chain. He has also been involved in
various network implementations across Europe as the Project Manager and most
recently Project Director for NGCOM Nigeria Limited.
He was also Project Manager for Dott Telecom. He is also a
Co-founder and CEO of Taurus Mobile/Taurus Mobile Services. He has branched out
on his own and formed Total Quest Enterprise, which specializes in all forms of
Telecommunication Network implementation and also project management. He is
also a writer for www.icttoday.org.
In his spare time, he co-manages an orphanage in Nigeria
where he encourages friends and colleagues to donate gifts for the children and
up until 2008 he enjoyed volunteering his services for Salvation Army in the UK
for over 10 years. He is also a co-founder /Director on Non-Governmental
organization called Fathers Heart Children Trust.
4. Abubakar Bagudu
Dallatun Kalgo
Media consultant, entrepreneur and motivational speaker.
Served as executive secretary of Kebbi chamber of commerce, special adviser on
media and currently state secretary of Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association
of Nigeria, Kebbi state chapter.
5. Wadi Victoria
Ben-Hirki
Wadi Is an Ashoka change maker and served as a ONE champion
for two years. In 2017, she was the focal point for Canada High Commission’s #SheCANLead
campaign in Nigeria. In 2016, she participated in the Africa Union’s Regional Consultation
on Human Rights with a major focus on Women’s Rights. She was a youth delegate
at the Global Partnership for Education Financing Conference 2018 and served as
a Special Guest on education & skills for the 21st century at the Y20
Summit 2018.
She also participated in the 2018 United States Institute of
Peace (USIP) Generation Change Fellowship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She
currently sits on the African Leadership Institute Youth Advisory Board and
serves as a Country Representative for the Chatham House Common Futures
Conversations.
She is a 2019 Diana Award Holder and was one of the
recipients of the World Youth Forum Award 2018 which was presented by H.E
President AbdelFaeah El-Sisi (President of Egypt). She emerged as one of the
winners of the Thailand Village Academy Competition 2019.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ORGANIZATION'S PROJECT
The journey from 2016;
Campaign against
Teenage Pregnancy:
Our key speaker was
Neil McCluskey amongst other experienced speakers, religious leaders in
Obiaruku, Delta State.300 students of secondary schools in Obiaruku, Abraka and
Obinomba community school teachers, parents were in attendance.
This project educated the young ones on the need to stand up
against teenage pregnancy, the speakers made sure to educate the audience on
the ills of teenage pregnancy and also stressed on the need to focus on their
goal so as not to be distracted.
A Love Letter to Myself
This is a February 14th Valentine project.
This is a time of love and a very vulnerable one for young
girls to become victims of rape, coerced and unprotected sex. This project
aimed to instill self-confidence and sufficiency in young school girls. Q&A
sessions about menstrual hygiene and distribution of Disposable Sanitary Pads
with love stickers as gif items.
This project engaged a total of 3000 students from 5 schools
in Ukwuani Local Government Advocacy against Teenage Pregnancy: This project
was a very unconventional one. We acknowledged the fact that teenagers have a
short attention span and instead of boring them with lots of seminars like the
first project, we engaged the tool of entertainment.
With the permission of
Stephanie Linus-Idahosa, we organized a film show using her award-winning
movie "Dry", which is a
story of Teenage Pregnancy, child marriage, girl education and VVF (Vessico
Vagina Fistula).
A Q&A session took place afterward. It also doubled as a
distribution of Disposable Sanitary Pads (Angel Pads). Angel Pad from Lagos
partnered to give hundreds of samples of their products to support us.
To sponsor or be part of this project, send an email to
foundationgheffgmail.com or call
Benedicta on
+2348062789466 or Fredrick on
+2348037612292.
ItsTimeForAction, #MHDAY2020 #PeriodsInPandemics
#Girls4DevGoals
GIRLS FOR DEVELOPMENT
GOALS FOUNDATION PROFILE
NAME: Girls for Development Goals Foundation
REG NO: CAC/IT/NO 141114
DATE: December 19th, 2019.
ADDRESSES:
Headquarters
No. 3, Esimike Estate, Utagbuno Junction,
Obiaruku,
Delta State, Nigeria.
Liaison Office
No. 12, Yari House, Emir Haruna,
Near Ajala Motors, Birnin-Kebbi,
Kebbi State, Nigeria.
CONTACT:
Tel: 08062789466, 08037612292, 07056636064
Email: supportfgirlsdgf.org, foundationgheffgmail.com.
Website: www.girlsdgf.org