Soroptimist International Empowers Persons Living With Disability In Anambra State

    Cross section of hearing impaired students at Achina community , Aguata local government area Anambra state

 A humanitarian group, Soroptimist International, Anambra state chapter has trained about 50 persons living with disability  in Anambra State on various forms of economic self- reliance ventures to improve their well-being.
The training session which hinge on liquid soap making and custard ,was staged by the organization in conjunction with the Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disability[ASCEND] 

Speaking with newsmen in Awka during the programme,the President of Soroptimist International Anambra state,Mrs Patricia Maduabum,said they decided to sponsor the economic empowerment training for persons living with disability to help them conquer poverty and earn a living for themselves.
‘’We want to help the disable persons among us to know how to make liquid soap and custard so that they can help themselves economically. Last time, we distributed 20 wheelchairs and 20 clutches to them with a cheque of N100,000.And this time, after they must have learnt the business, we can support them with cash so that they can start on their own’’
While describing their partnership with ASCEND as a wonderful one,she added that it was her resolve on assumption of office to embark on programmes that would uplift the living standard of the physically challenged.
In her contribution, the South East Co-Ordinator, Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians living with Disability[ASCEND],Miss Hope Ngwube,said that they have never had it so good with Soroptimist International as their joy knew no bound.
‘’Since the inception of the leadership of Mrs Patricia Maduabum,her project is mainly based on disable persons. They have been doing projects with us and this is another project being done by them,that is, teaching us how to make liquid soap and custard.We are very very grateful’’
‘’I am thanking God for what He is using the Soroptimist International to do among us.I am also thanking Corp Member Bukola Salami,who volunteered herself to help us learn the business’’she said
She described the training session as very rewarding as most their members would be economically empowered to fend for themselves and their families at the end of the training.
Corp Member Bukola Salami,the trainer,a graduate of philosophy from Ekiti State University,Ado-Ekiti,said she decided to train the less- privileged on various forms of economic ventures to help them add value to their lives.
She said that she had organized similar skill acquisition programmes in secondary schools, including Special Education Centre in Oji-River,Enugu State,to encourage youths to start their own businesses and think less of non-existent white collar jobs.
Some of the participants at the training session including Messrs Emmanuel Okafor and Ugochukwu Ibe, described the event as a life-changing one and called for more of such trainings to positively touch their lives.
They also called on other bodies, associations, governments at all level, philanthropists, to emulate the good gesture of Soroptimist International by assisting them to overcome their economic challenges.