A NEW YEAR HOPE FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

This report summarises Tabitha Home's activities in the last two months - July and August.

Tabitha Home is a care home dedicated to providing a supportive environment for orphans and vulnerable children. Our mission is to "Inspire Hope for Vulnerable Children " through a holistic approach.

We offer comprehensive support services, including therapies, education, nutrition, and medical care. Our focus areas include women empowerment, sustainability, child development, and youth advocacy. We also conduct monthly theme-based activities to promote resilience and essential life skills. Recently, our children explored the theme of failure in July and August, learning to reframe their perception of setbacks and develop a growth mindset.

Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and child safeguarding policies, we provide a safe and supportive environment for our children to thrive. By providing holistic care and support, we inspire hope and empower vulnerable children to reach their full potential.

ACHIEVEMENTS

- Our children acquired two new skills in August: resin art and shoe making.

- Successfully executed the final edition of our five-year project, Girls Tech 1.5, in August.

- All our children in Nursery, Primary, and Secondary schools were promoted to new classes in July.

- 10 children received gifts as outstanding students in their respective schools in July and August.

OVERVIEW

CHILD PROTECTION 

Tabitha Home is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for vulnerable children. Our care facility is home to 62 children, and we adhere strictly to policies like the Child Rights Law, Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, and Health & Safety Policy.

These policies ensure the safety of staff, children, visitors, and stakeholders. Our facility is also protected 24/7 by trained security personnel, who work closely with community security teams.

By prioritizing our children's well-being and security, we provide a foundation for them to grow, learn, and thrive. At Tabitha Home, we believe every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment, and we are committed to providing just that.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT 

Our children recently completed their third-term examinations at their respective schools. Notably, two Senior Secondary School Three students sat for their NECO examinations, while two primary five pupils took their Common Entrance Examinations.

In July, several schools hosted prize-giving and graduation ceremonies. We celebrated the graduation of ten secondary school students, three Junior secondary school students, and two primary school students. Ten students received prizes for academic excellence.

To support academic development, six lesson teachers provide instruction on allocated days. Our library remains open during summer break, promoting reading and learning.

We're proud to report excellent WAEC results for ten students and successful completion of second-semester exams for five university beneficiaries.

PSYCHOSOCIALSUPPORT
Members of the staff continued to provide psychosocial support for the children through the activities in the home such as: key working, Kids Club, Reading culture and outdoor social activities. These activities include group therapy sessions and activities that help each child express his or herself, get to understand their strength, discover their weakness and improve on it which in turn help to contribute towards the development of a total child.

NUTRITIONAL  SUPPORT
The children were fed with three square meals with mid-day snacks all through the month of July and August. The management ensured that each meal was well balanced with all needed nutrients for the children.

MEDICAL SUPPORT

A First Aid Box is conveniently located at the reception for immediate assistance. The Home Administrator and Caregivers oversee first aid services, collaborating with medical professionals for guidance and expertise. They proactively ensure children receive timely medical attention at partner hospitals, including University College Hospital, The Vine Hospital and others, to prevent illnesses from escalating.

SOCIAL INTEGRATION

GYM Initiative Conference (July 31–Aug 3): 15 children (ages 12–20) attended a spiritually uplifting camp with worship,skill acquisition, prayer walks, sports, and a dance presentation.

Outpour of Fragrance Initiative (Aug 3): Children joined a praise and prayer program with worship, games and quizzes. Tabitha Home children presented a song and a dance ministration. One of the children was able to meet with her brother who resides in another Care Home.

Arts & Crafts Exhibition: On the 6th of July, Molebi Art and Fashion show held its annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition at Tunde Odunlade Arts Gallery in Bodija, Ibadan. The exhibition showcased various elements of African Culture, including folklore , traditional games, African music, chants & poetry, paintings, and a wide range of handcrafted art.

Tabitha Home was represented at the exhibition by some staff members and children. The children gave a vibrant dance presentation as part of the event. In addition, products from Tabitha Maison Enterprise such as tote bags, earrings, shambala bracelets, gift boxes, bead accessories, phone charms and notepads were displayed showcasing the creative work done at Tabitha Home.

Panache Summer Camp (Aug): 5 children participated in a 2-week camp themed “Compass” with skills in baking, cooking, public speaking, and time management. One child won best Handwriting.

Asido Foundation Bootcamp (Aug 5–7): 4 children attended training on resilience, self-care, and creativity, with painting, games, and dance. Attendees also received certificates.

National Library Summer Program (Aug 18–29): 20 children joined the “Acquiring 21st Century Skills” program organized by the National Library located at Iyaganku. The children were engaged with reading, knitting, storytelling, and coding.

Boys Summer Camp:The Rescued Generation organized a boys-only summer camp for ages 12-19 at Ilaji Resorts, Ibadan, from August 15th to 17th. The camp was themed “Next Generation Heroes: The Legacy of David’s Mighty Men”. Five boys from the home attended the camp. During the camp, they engaged in various activities, including movie time, prayer sessions, exercises, sports and a special session on purity

Birthday Celebration: We celebrated the birthdays of our children in July and August. In July, one child's birthday was marked with songs, prayers, and a party on the 28th.

In August, two children celebrated their birthdays with songs, prayers, and a joint party on the 30th. These special moments bring joy and happiness to our children, and we're grateful to share in their celebrations.

IN-HOUSE PROJECTS

Tabitha Maison Entreprise

Tabitha Maison Enterprise is an enterprise established by Tabitha Home to generate sustainable funding for the Home. The aim is to create a self-sustaining funding model through handmade crafts and products, including tote bags, leather bags, and Ankara accessories. In August, a special summer training was organized for some of the children in the home. The aim of this training was to expose the children to new creative skills that can add to their knowledge and equip them with practical, hands-on abilities.

Two external trainers were invited to facilitate the training. They introduced the children to two main areas of skill acquisition: Shoe Making and Resin Art. In the shoe making session, the children were taught step by step how to make different types of slippers , including palm slippers of various sizes. For Resin Art, the children were introduced to the art of designing and crafting using resin. They learned how to create beautiful accessories such as earrings and key holders. The summer training  was not only beneficial to the children but also added to the existing knowledge base of Tabitha Maison Enterprise. 

Girls Tech  1.5

Tabitha Home organized another edition of Girls Tech Project, a program inspired by the theme of the 2021 International Day of the Girl Child, “Digital Generation, Our Generation”. The initiative is designed to equip young girls across different care homes with essential ICT skills, empowering them to thrive in today’s digital world. 

The fifth edition of Girls Tech 1.5, which also marked the final edition, was held at New Covenant Church, Ring Road Center, Ibadan. The project brought together young girls from five different care homes: Tabitha Home, Kent Home, His Heritage Home, Total Parentage Home, and Oyiza Home. A total of 22 girls participated in the six day training program, which ran from August 11th to August 20th. This year’s curriculum focused on “Multimedia and Social Media Management”. Throughout the training, the girls were introduced to Multimedia Basics, Shooting with Mobile Devices, Capcut Video Editing and content creation challenge. On the final day, each home presented a final project, showcasing what they had learned throughout the training. The project concluded with the presentation of certificates of completion and awards of excellence to all participants in recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Reading Culture

Tabitha Home's Reading Culture project promotes reading and personal growth among its children. In the month of August, reading culture did not hold because the children were engaged with lots of outings.

Kids Club

The Kids Club program at Tabitha Home is a platform for learning and growth through play, games, and meaningful discussions. In the month of August, Kids Club did not hold because the children were engaged with a lot of outings. 

Children Reintegration

In August, two girls were successfully reintegrated with their mother. Their reintegration was officially processed through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Child Welfare Department, where all necessary documentation and protocols were followed before they were handed back to their mother.

CONCLUSION

This report highlights Tabitha Home's activities over the past two months. July marked the end of the 2024/2025 academic session, with our children writing promotional exams and receiving their results.

In August, we organized various activities for the children, including skill acquisition programs, monthly birthday celebrations, outings, arts and craft exhibitions, and a boys' hangout. Our August theme, "failure", promoted resilience and perseverance among our children.

We proudly announce that all ten of our children who took the WAEC exams achieved excellent results.

Links:

• 2024/2025 Graduation and Award Ceremony
• Girl's Tech 1.5 Grand Finale