FIGHTING POVERTY IN AFRICA THROUGH DIASPORA SUPPORT - BY JENNIFER BYRAM (VOLUNTEER IN LAGOS, NIGERIA)
IN FEBRUARY 2008, Yomi Oloko, a British-born Nigerian, who for many years has been involved in community development and poverty reduction work, took the decision to relocate to Nigeria to coordinate a small community-based organisation in Ipaja, Lagos, called Ipaja Community Lin (ICL).
ICL is the main Nigeria partner of a UK-based/Nigerian-led development charity organisation called Development Impact for Nigeria (DIFN), promoting development awareness amongst the UK-based Nigerian Diaspora community. ICL is working towards creating a prosperous, healthy and empowered community in Ipaja. The main programmes of ICL are:
• Community Skills Acquisition and Enterprise
• Employment Development
• Youth Volunteering
• Community Health Education
• Community Care Initiatives
ICL specifically aims to support and empower women, people living with HIV and AIDS, young people, and orphans and vulnerable children. When Yomi arrived to coordinate the project, due to the sad sudden death of the previous Coordinator, Bode Omakaro, ICL had very little funding, low project development and low staff morale. Initially, he thought that he might have to close the project down, but now things in Ipaja are looking a lot brighter.
The staff team of nine are more focused and enthusiastic to improve the lives of those living in and around Ipaja. ICL now receives financial and strategic support from two international development organisations...
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