by Ndidi Chukwu
The charity, Envision Global Care Foundation, has called for increased efforts to provide support for education and health for internally displaced people, especially children.
Envision, which routinely provides food aids to IDPs, donated teaching aids, exercise books and report cards to help volunteer teachers access the learning curve of children they teach on camps for displaced people.
It also gave health talks on hygiene and handwashing, in addition to refreshments to mark World Children’s Day on an IDP camp in Durumi, Abuja.
The camp, which houses nearly 2,700 residents, is considered to have a “structure that houses children in terms of having a place where they can come and school,” said Diana Eyo-Enoette, programme director for Envision.
“This camp has been managed over years to develop a structured educational system. It was very important we reach out to them in terms of their educational needs.”
Nearly six in 10 of Nigeria’s more than 1.8 million people displaced are aged between zero and 18.
“These children are the future of Nigeria. Some volunteers teach them but nobody assesses their education. It is not about us, it is about them. More hands need to be on deck to help them,” said Eyo-Enoette.
“It needs proper schooling and has no health care support, hence the need for more government support. There is never enough when people are displaced.”
The number of volunteer teachers on the camp have dropped, leaving most of the converted classrooms empty. The only occupied classrooms are two constructed by three corps members.
Idris Halilu, coordinator in charge of government and public affairs on the camp, said if it took three corps members to provide school rooms for the camp, concerted organised efforts could provide even more assistance.
