WHAT WE DO

Introduction: Hope for Orphans Progress and Empowerment Initiative (HOPEI) established in the year 2012, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2016.  Our organization is aimed at providing support to orphans and vulnerable group of people in the society by improving and impacting their lives for sustainable progress and community participation.

Our key thematic areas are: Policy Advocacy / community sensitization and mobilization; Orphans and Vulnerable Children care and support; Primary Health care and Sanitation; Community Capacity Building and Basic education and; Gender Mainstreaming and Human Rights Education.

Over the years, HOPEI supported and provided for orphans in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States respectively with educational support, free medical treatment, psycho-social support, skills training as well as improved means of livelihood for their caregivers.

Background:

In Nigeria today, Orphans and Vulnerable children are exposed to harsh situations making them psychological and socially vulnerable. Natural and man-made disasters have ignited the situation further more. War against terrorism, religious and political crisis, corruption, flood and famine are key notable drivers of these situations. Hope for Orphans Progress and Empowerment Initiative (HOPEI) was established in the year 2012 to serve as medium to empower orphans and vulnerable groups and was registered with cooperate affairs Commission (CAC) Nigeria in 2016.

The Orphan and vulnerable children tend to face more hardship as they grow older, especially the girl child. They are vulnerable to maltreatments such as harassment and violence in their environs, couple with economic hardship, sexual abuse and exploitation as a result of lack of care and protection. These identified risks and other vulnerabilities are also likely to destroy their future and livelihoods as well. 

A very strong and reliable commitment is needed to protecting and bettering the lives of these orphaned and vulnerable children so as to ensure that their needs are addressed through sustainable actions at the local government level as well as at the national levels, so that interventions made can achieve the greatest possible impact.

In this new year (2019) we are reviewing and simplifying our strategies to help us meet up with increasing demands from Vulnerable Children and their care-giver/households. HOPEI currently have 31 VC enrolled in Sokoto State and it is planning to enroll 19 or more this year. While in Kebbi State 45 VC had been enrolled and provided with services around the nine (9) strategies below:

STRATEGY 1: 

Policy Advocacy, community Mobilization, community dialogue, gender mainstreaming and resource mobilization and capacity building

STRATEGY 2: 

To increase beneficiaries’ access to Medical health and prevention of major childhood illnesses (Malaria, Pneumonia and Diarrhea)

STRATEGY 3: 

Increase VC and Care-giver/house hold access to nutrition and nutritional services

STRATEGY 4: 

Provide Shelter and Care to VC and House hold

STRATEGY 5: 

To Increase VC and Care-giver/house hold's access to quality education

STRATEGY 6: 

To Increase VC and Care-giver/house hold access to Psycho-Social Support

STRATEGY 7: 

To Increase VC and Care-giver/house hold access to protection services

STRATEGY 8: 

To provide or link graduating VC (Age 17+) and or Care-giver/house hold to economic strengthening activities

STRATEGY 9: 

OUTREACHES (To increase access to Health, Education and Psycho-Social support in HTR priority communities).

Engaging policy makers on domestication of global development agenda and declarations that are in tune with our culture and capable of fast-tracking sustainable development.   At the same time exposing the grass-root to democratic norms and values for virtue, peaceful, united, progressive and disciplined society through continues public sensitization and awareness on developmental issues.

HOPEI was able to engage key government agencies that are centre to vulnerable children. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as the Agency saddle with the responsibility of providing succor when disaster strike and mostly those at the receiving end are women and children that inform the reason for HOPEI to engage NEMA at Zonal level for synergy and referral coordination as well as psychosocial support.

HOPEI also engage Sokoto State Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Justice and National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) and Traditional institutions.

Advocacy visit to Sarkin Kabin Jega prior to Medical outreach
 in Kanrawai under Kimba district in Jega Emirate.

HOPEI Management Team in a group photograph with NEMA Zonal
 Management Team in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and
Zamfara during a courtesy call to NEMA.

ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN CARE AND SUPPORT: 

We are working with the community and relevant Agencies to provide adequate care for orphans and vulnerable groups, and increase their knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality, gender-sensitive care and support; provide for basic needs (e.g. clothing, food, water, hygiene, shelter, emotional support, education, health care, a safe environment and recreation) and life skills for orphans and vulnerable groups. So far HOPEI has supported 81 VC under our Educational Support Scheme (HESS) with various educational materials and sponsorship and WAEC and NECO registration for some of them. HOPEI is also working closely with Sokoto Orphanage Home.