A NAIRA A DAY!!!

 

Do you know that with only =N= 10.00

 (Ten naira) a day you can….

·        Make a difference in the life of an orphan/less privileged child?

·        You can feed not only the belly but the mind of a less privileged child?

The naira a day initiative is a concerted effort to raise funds to feed at least fifteen thousand less privileged children over the next 12 months.

Through out 2008, by giving a minimum of four thousand naira (which will translate to less than 10 naira a day) you will be ensuring that the disadvantaged children will have access to a good meal and a level of basic quality education.

Linkachild will be working with partner organisations to achieve these set goals.

We invite you to partner with us by making a minimum donation of N4000 on or before Monday March 31st 2008 to be a part of making the future better for the less privileged.

*Cheques should be made payable to LINKACHILD (A Naira A Day Initiative)

linkachild Ltd/Gte RC 631048 3,Adebisi Omotola Close, Off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island – Lagos, Nigeria.     NAIRA ACCOUNTS   GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC 2147732241110   FOR BRITISH POUND TRANSACTIONS:   BANK: STANDARD CHARTERED BANK CLEMENT HOUSE 27 CLEMENT LANE LONDON EC4N7AP   ACCT NO 01254512801   ACCT NAME ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC SWIFT CODE: SCBLGB2L SORT CODE: 60-91-04   FOR US DOLLAR TRANSACTIONS   BANK: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY NEW YORK BANKERS TRUST PLAZA 13 LIBERTY STREET NEW YORK NY 10006   ACCOUNT NO. 04087350 ACCT NAME: ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC SWIFT CODE: BKTRUS33 FED. WIRE: 021001033   Please Note: A t the point of payment donor should please state categorically that further credit should be applied to the Linkachild Account domiciled at the Ecobank bank Head Office Branch Victoria Island Lagos with Account Number:   Pounds: 433861926   Dollars: 433861934

                  Join us lets build the future together…

–

Olusina Bello (Administrator)
Linkachild Ltd/Gte
08033854523, 08024727801

Nuff said!

                                                                                                                                     

                                                                       http://www.silentday.org/index.php

Woman that do it for me…finale

Cece Winans- When I listen to her music it always ministers to me, she comes across like one that is a true worshipper- one that loves the Lord with all her being giving Him the praise in every way. Apart from being an award winning artist (six times Grammy awards winner), Dove award winner, Soul train award winner and actress… she is also a teacher and mentor…Her album Throne room is my all time favourite, not just the melody but the words always bring healing and joy to my soul, I feel sometimes listening to her songs and feel like I am intruding in her personal time with God. I most admire about her is a passion for the youth, especially young girls. In Oct of 2005, Cece developed and hosted the Always Sisters conference which focuses on support for young women ages 13-26yrs, where she offered words of encouragement and self esteem was discussed. This is her passion that young women will walk in the fullness of God glory and self worth of their everyday lives. At the conference she presented the young ladies with tiaras as a token to the girl, She said…”My prayer was that they know God and know who they are”…”He is the only one that can really teach you who you are, how beautiful you are, how powerful you are, that you deserve the best and not to settle for less” This are the kind of things I like to see and hear..Older women mentoring the younger ones and empowering them on who (we) are as women/princesses and should be treated as one by ourselves and others. Cece has been married for over 21yrs with two children (boy/girl) Cece the wife and mother has managed to balance her personal and professional lives with relatives ease….this for me is a woman living a life with purpose. 

 Oprah Winfrey- Born January 29, 1954 is the American multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Show, the highest-rated talk show in television history. She is also an influential book critic, an Academy Award -nominated actress for The Color Purple. And a magazine publisher of O, The Oprah Magazine and O at Home. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time, and the world’s only black billionaire for three straight years. She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world {} raised in rural poverty by her grandmother, born out of wedlock by a mother who was a housekeeper and father a coal miner, at the birth of Oprah, but later became a councilman. Regardless of background and a challenged home life she was able to rise above it all at 13yrs received a scholarship to attend Nicolet High School in the Milwaukee suburb of Glendale, Wisconsin after which she won an oratory contest, which secured her full scholarship to Tennessee State University, a historically black institution, where she studied communication. This is a woman that has accomplished so much in the world of media I could go on, but what I would like to spotlight and truly admire is her Leadership Academy for Girls  in South Africa, she intends teaching a class via satellite. Oprah is not married, but instead has been in longstanding relationship of over 20yrs with partner Stedman Graham. She never had children of her own but had this to say about the girls of her Leadership Academy….”I never had children, never even thought I would have children. Now I have 152 daughters; expecting 75 more next year. That is some type of gestation period…I said to the mothers, the family members, the aunts, the grannies — because most of these girls have lost their families, their parents — I said to them, “Your daughters are now my daughters and I promise you I’m going to take care of your daughters. I promise you.”   

I found doing the research for this list quiet reflective and it sure did reinforce things about myself that I am absolutely sure are no coincidences anymore… all the women that I admire, truly sum me up …Out of the box, Passionate, Motivational, Strong, Natural nurturers, Called to run “their own” race, Unique with a large heart of service to others and effective to their immediate society and the world!

 None of these women are perfect and have made mistakes in their lives, they have had their share of challenges and adversity, but it never stopped them…

Life must have purpose!

Who inspires you? 

Who do you admire?  

 And Why? 

The adventure called Motherhood… are you ready?

Artist : Mufu Onifade

Title: Omu iya du (Mothers mike is sweet)

We are sitting at lunch when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of starting a family. “We’re taking a survey,” she says, half-joking. “Do you think I should have a baby?” “It will change your life,” I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. “I know,” she says, “no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations….” But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking “What if that had been MY child?” That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of “Mom!” will cause her to drop her best crystal without a moment’s hesitation. I feel I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby’s sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right. I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy’s desire to go to the men’s room rather than the women’s at McDonald’s will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom. However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give
it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years-not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.I want her to know that a caesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honour. My daughter’s relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic. I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children’s future. I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter’s quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. “You’ll never regret it,” I finally say. Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter’s hand and offer a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. This blessed gift from God . . . that of being a Mother.

Authour Unknown.

This is what 10yrs investment looks like…

 I would like to give my baby girl a shout-out as she celebrated a land mark Birthday on the 30^th of August..She is my little miracle baby, born 6weeks early weighing 1.9kg. I am so proud of you…My Ruchelle Aisosa Chizoba aka Ruchie, you are the best first born I could have had, you are such an example to your younger brother and sister, and also a great help to me. I find it so sweet how your beautiful dark eyes water (gets teary) any time you’re a paid a compliment, your smile, so captivating, not to mention your intelligent and creative mind…

PS: congratulation on making school council

Happy 10^th Birthday my Ruchie-girl

  

 We love you and pray all of God’s blessing in your life.

May you fulfil your purpose and walk in the 

 fullness of your destiny in this lifetime.

Amen!

Love always,

Digby aka Daddy, Mumruch aka Mummy, 

Lijipoo aka Elijah-baptiste

and  Princess Jo-jo aka Jeunelle.

RefinedOne….Vexed!! Who is speaking for our babies?

Hi guys…It’s been along break and a very necessary one too on so many levels, I guess the different aspects of it would reflected on my future posts.
My last post was all about Link-a-child and a particular Orphanage I was drawn to help, I asked for your assistance and I must say thanks to those that acted on the cry.
I must update you on the development on my trip regarding the orphage in Igbo Efon called  Hope for all Foundation Motherless babies home
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, I was broken hearted at the state I saw my babies (My baby Sola and the other babies) there had been no improvement ….if any it was getting worse. To help get things going and improved I got talking with a friend about getting her church involved since it was nearer the Motherless babies home, only to find out that a lady by the name of Sabina God bless her, truly an angel ( I will be talking about her and the work she does in the very near future) Sabina had been to the same Orphanage and was very disturb about the state the babies where living in.
This for me was divine intervention cos of the way we both had been drawn to the same Orphanage and passion for the babies’ welfare. Sabina later told me that she had seen other Orphanages and was deeply sadden at the state of things at Hope for all foundation Motherless babies home in Igbo Efon Lekki. We found out that the babies were not getting vitamins, but the babies have since been secretly administering the vitamins to the babies without the Homes administrator Ms Regina Adegbite knowing cos she may not give the babies (why you say? I do not know). The whole situation gets even more bizarre
We arranged to visit the orphanage together the following day which was a Sunday, so after service we set off, me, Sabina, my sis-law Celina and my friend Sis Osaretin who had linked Sabina and I together.
As we walked into the room where the babies slept, played and eat the smell was overpowering, they all were sick with diarrhea full with dirty nappies that looked like they had not been changed all day , the had all lost weigth and where skin and bone , we later found out that the babies where not getting any medication for their diarrhea…this is no exaggeration, it was that bad!
In a mixture of vexation, hurt and pain we immediately insisted and assisted the babies to have their bath and changing their nappies. One at a time they were bathe we each got down to drying them with one towel between five children, they had no rash cream or baby powder.
QUICK NOTE: they did not have these things not because they were not donated or given, cos as an example, I know a couple of weeks before,  Celina my sis-in-law had donated 25,000 Naira worth of baby milk and nappies, Sabina had donated petroleum jelly and powder previously too ( so you say where did all that go? I don’t know)
While we were assisting in getting the babies bath and dressed the administrator was nowhere to be seen, she knew we were around. Five babies where been looked after by one young lady!
It gets worse..while we were talking to the administrator one of the little children by the name of Tolu who was brain damaged due to the way he was delivered (his mother standing and him delivered head first) like any 2yr old boy went playing amongst some donated gift items…what happened next was the nail in the coffin for me….Ms Regina Adegbite slapped the little boy on his face! In front of 4 mothers, when she was confronted about her action she said she would do it again, that the boy was stubborn. Sabina had mentioned that when she was at the orphanage sometime before that Ms Regina Adegbite had smacked my baby Sola in her present…now we saw it for ourselves. If she could do that in our presence what would she do in our absences?
After the slap, I had to excuse myself less I did something that would not have been lady like. Sabina carried Tolu and was comforting him she had tears in her eyes and prayed over him and the other babies…her heart was so broken
These children are at risk!
At risk of malnutrition!
At risk of abuse (emotional/physical)
At risk of death!
CHILD WELFARE IN NIGERIA WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ….More on trying to get help for the babies of  Hope for all Foundation Motherless babies home Igbo Efon, Lekki

The kind of help I trully would like is to move the babies away from that place to another safe orphange ….cos there are plenty of very well run homes in Nigeria.

Baby Sola:Re-visited!

 

Yes I said I’ll update you all about the Orphans in Igbo Efon Lekki Lagos, Nigeria called Hope for all Foundation Motherless babies home and Link-a-child.org.

Well it’s been a while so I thought I’ll let you all know what happened the last time…cos I’ll be needing your help this trip.

I should be going back home in a couple of weeks and I would love for some donations and contributions…

No! I don’t want you to send them to me…This call out is to  Naija bloggers and all that come to this blogsite to join me to make a difference no matter own little..

I have pictures of some of the gifts, toys and food that was donated to the kids on my last trip…a couple of our friends gave us (hubby and I ) some money to help brighten the kids room( would love to do more ) but will have to  start with the room they sleep and play in….

So we painted the room and put up some stick on kiddies characters on the wall and loads of toys for the babies…

Was not very happy cos “my baby Sola” had lost so much weight, but was reassured that it was due to teething…

At first I felt we did not do enough, but when I saw the kids light up at the sight of the toys… I thought to myself just little things like this can make a difference!  At first a couple of the kids were frighten of the soft toys..but later relaxed and started playing with them.

There is still a lot to do …They need new beds and mattresses, a couple of drawers for the kid’s clothes and to tidy up the room…and many more…

Please I am not asking you to send me money…..But contact Linkachild.org and request your donations/contributions of money/toys or food stuff for ….

Hope for all Foundation Motherless babies home.

I would encourage volunteers to please come/make yourselves avaiable and join linkachild.org and be part of this organisations; also for donation to the organisation to help support there continuous work in funding other projects and  supporting other orphanages…

So if you’ll like to be part of this in anyway

…get in touch with me- Refined74@gmail.com  

or www.linkachild.org

 NAIRA DONATION

GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC

ACCT NUMBER2147732241110

ACCT NAME LINKACHILD LTD/ GTE

FOR BRITISH POUND DONATIONS 

BANK: STANDARD CHARTERED BANKCLEMENT HOUSE27 CLEMENT LANELONDON EC4N7AP 

 ACCT NO 01254512801ACCT NAME ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC SWIFT CODE: SCBLGB2LSORT CODE: 60-91-04

BENEFFITING ACCOUNT: LINKACHILD (ACCT NUMBER 4338691934)

FOR US DOLLAR DONATIONS 

BANK: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY NEW YORKBANKERS TRUST PLAZA13 LIBERTY STREETNEW YORK NY 10006 

ACCOUNT NO. 04087350 ACCT NAME: ECOBANK NIGERIA PLCSWIFT CODE: BKTRUS33 FED. WIRE: 021001033

BENEFFITING ACCOUNT: LINKACHILD (ACCT NUMBER 4338691926) 

Please notify by email amount donated and for which home or if the donor would rather have linkachild use their own discretion for use of  the donation .all emails should be sent to info@linkachild.org

What has been done so far…..

Toys…

lagos_2-001.jpg lagos_2-003.jpg lagos_2-004.jpg

The babies playing with the toys….but look at the state of their beds, help make a difference!

lagos_2-027.jpg lagos_2-038.jpg lagos_2-047.jpg lagos_2-078.jpg lagos_2-045.jpg lagos_2-035.jpg

lagos_2-040.jpg

Painted walls and stickers

lagos_2-070.jpg   lagos_2-073.jpg

Food stuff , nappies and Baby milk

lagos_2-050.jpg lagos_2-051.jpg

Things still in need of are beds, decent kitchen unit, bore-hole ( for clean water) so the Home does not have to buy water.

lagos-036.jpg  lagos-077.jpg lagos-083.jpg   Bore-hole (well) lagos_2-007.jpg lagos_2-008.jpg

.If you’re not part of the solution, you are…

Bebe, thanks for all your support 

PS: Will not be putting up any new posts for the next 2months….

Accuser of the brethren!!! Enterpreneur!!!and Pastor!!!

Hello all, hope we all had a pleasant weekend and those that where able to celebrate with their fathers did so.It’s good to know we ALL have a heavenly Father that loves us unconditionally, that for ever protects and has made ALL provision available for our wellbeing.With His hands opened we can freely come to Him and call Him Father!  

Father God I thank you! 

 I am a Christian and love the lord with all my heart, I am not religious but, one with a personal relationship with God the Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. I am not perfect, I make mistakes and still have things I struggle with.I thank God, for I can do nothing to attain or sustain perfection all by myself. What make me righteous ( right standing, able to be called righteous ) and able to stand before God almighty is not my “good deeds” or “good behaviour” it not my intelligence or lack of it…it’s not the eloquence of my words , wealth or fame, but simply the fact that I have ask Jesus in to my life as Lord and saviour and He with the sheared blood of Calvary has washed me and now God the Father sees me through the blood of God the Son, Jesus Christ.

For it is in Him I am made righteous!

I enjoy blogging and the freedom of expression, people can say what they have a passion for, it helps build networks and gets like minded people miles apart to share and grow in there ideas..It creates friendships…We all have our different points of view, but all are still respected…at least some do, these brings me to my topic for this post….which is going to be in two parts.

I find it really saddening and to be honest down right angry when in this blog village of ours ….one that calls himself a  Christian, does not but do the work of the devil and tear down others that are of one blood and family (apparently he is the only one that has the mind and knows the mind of God) …I call him the “righteousness police”, he has taken the place of the HolySpirit, but I guess God has not informed the rest of us!

 The one I refer to is a Nigerian blogger and “entrepreneur” based in Nigeria (guess he would do anything to get attention) This is something I would not normally do, but I believe it’s fair, as he does not have any sensitivity, respect or plain and simply; does not have the Spirit of God in him (IMO) based on his conduct.

All he does is ridicule, Christian Ministries all over the world and in Nigeria with his arrogant, haughty , self righteous ,wicked, insulting, holier than thou tone! (I don’t see the fruit of the spirit in any of those characteristics) If you do please let me know.The bible tell us to question/test doctrines…Religion should never be the opium of the people…we should not shut our heads and reasoning faculty in the name of religion, but ask questions, read the word of God for ourselves, pray for understanding and wisdom to implement what we learn, for the edify of ourselves and others, never forgetting the Love of God.

But this is not what this person does…and that is why I have called him the ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN!!!!! What is worst is he is a Pastor of his own ministry…

Do you know him yet?

 More to come….

Our Father…

Our Father….On the 3 Sunday of the month of June, 17^th to be precise will be Father’s day, so I taught we talk about the office of a Father and celebrate them . A lot of people may not have had a good experience with there fathers, but some have and still do.With the increase or single mothers and teenage pregnancy the role of fathers is beginning to get distorted and even lost…young man are not taking up the responsibility, maybe because a lot of them never had a father/father figure in there lives too ( it hard to reproduce what you never had) Just getting a girl pregnant does not make you a father…A fathers role in a child’s life consists of love, protection, provision, direction and correction

To expand on this further I would like to introduce a lady that her blog has become a daily read for me, she is inspiring and eloquent as she explains her different topics, and I know she will do just that with this topic, I give you Olubola Oluyemi of www.mumsdadschildren.blogspot.com

Fatherhood is the state of being a father. It is the ability to hold the position and authority of a father in the family. In the holy bible “Fathers” is used in the sense of seniors, and of parents in general, or ancestors.

God’s fatherhood should be a typical example for all; it emphasizes the irreplaceable role of fathers in our individual lives.

The most important predictor of criminal behaviour is not race, not income, not religious affiliation. It’s a father influence. It is important that men know that bringing up children is a very important part of their life.

 The greatest praise that men can give to motherhood is for them to share in the role because the presence or absence of masculine leadership in the home determines how the children turns out and this also determines the future and survival of any nation.

Fathers as Mentors/Mentors as Fathers….
Serving as a trusted counsellor or teacher to another person. Most children develop their perception of life by merely watching their parents. Children’s image of their father may have possibly affected their perception of God, which in turn affects their self-image. When a child has a negative perception of his father or the father figure in his life it is possible that the child will develop a negative attitude towards others.

For example:
If your father is pushy, inconsiderate of you, violate and used you, you may see others in the same way. You probably feel cheap or worthless in their eyes, and perhaps feel that you deserve to be taken advantage of by others. You may feel that even God will force you—not ask you—to do things you don’t want to do.
Also if your father is a weakling, and you couldn’t’t depend on him to help you or defend you, your image of God and other people may be that of a weakling. You may feel that you are unworthy of people’s comfort and support, or that they are unable to help you. If your father is overly critical and constantly came down hard on you, or if he didn’t believe in you or your capabilities and discouraged you from trying, you may perceive people in the same way. You don’t feel as if you’re worth other’s respect or trust. You may even see yourself as a continual failure, deserving all the criticism you receive.

But when you have a positive perception of your father or mentor, you’re likely to have a positive attitude towards others, God and future.

Author: Olubola Oluyemi.

So I say to all those men that have walked and are walking in the office of Fatherhood…we celebrate you!For those about to step into this office we encourage you and say; it is a privilege to be able to influence a generation.

On the 17^th please take time out to celebrate our Fathers and Father figures.

Let it not be only one day in the year…but continuously.

For those who there Daddy is no more with us…..This is for you.

Father’s Day 07 @AfricanLoft

Who’s your daddy?

Why do I love my Father aka Dadddyyyy! So?

I’ll tell you….

He was the first man in my life and showed me how I was to be treated in the future, with love (yes! Official card-carrying member of “daddy’s pet club)  Sitting at his foot, looking up at this man with his strong arms that made me feel protected, wide smile (mine is just like his) He was my template for the future of what I would desire in a man… (Husband) strong manly man, loving, intellectual and God fearing.

Listening to highlife music takes me back to the times of innocence, when he would wake up at the weekends, wearing his silk like, gold and brown patterned morning coat over his brown pj’s sitting in the veranda with his morning coffee, black with 6cubes of sugar, 2 boiled eggs with some salt in the side ( now I see why I love the smell of coffee so much and why browns/gold are my favourite colours) all this he did while reading his morning paper and sometimes talking to neighbourhood electrician or one of the other neighbours that live in the compound.

Now I know why I love music so…cos he opened our ears to a varied type of music… with his LP collection from Bobby Benson , Art Alade, Marian Makibe, Mayanka belle, Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and all the classic like Mozart to Handle, what did he not have in his collection?..Ah! Not to forget Fela, Voice of the cross…whoa! It brings tears to me eyes… Why should I not love this man that contributed to the making of Me! …No one is perfect… and he is not…. Nevertheless, he is my Daddy! And I love him so.Happy Father’s Day … Daddy!Want to say alittle something about your Father…check out http://community.africanloft.com ….go on say it in words, picture or video!Father’s Day 17th of June……

Celebrate Father’s Day on AfricanLoft and Win a Prize!

 

Who’s your Daddy?

Event: Celebrate Father’s Day (June 17) and win a $50 Amazon gift-card!

Venue: AfricanLoft Community

Time: Now till June 17*, 2007. * Use your time zone

What: Share a piece on your Dad or father-figure

How:

1. Write a short story on your father in the blog (100 words max.)
2. Post picture or pictures (must be in JPEG, PNG, or GIF format (no progressive JPGs or animated GIFs) and must not be greater than 8MB)
3. Post a video clip or clips (must be in .flv, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .mov, .3gp, .mpg, .mpeg, or .mp4 format, 25MB limit.)
4. Post an audio file or files (must be in MP3 format, and no greater than 8MB)

• Entries could be on one, all, or any combination of the above four
• All submissions MUST be tagged “Father’s Day ‘07”
• Any entry after the June 17 deadline will not be considered
• A winner will be announced on June 18, 2007

Eligibility:

• Members of AfricanLoft Community
• Non members must register to contest

NOTE: Entries will be judged on their clarity, originality, content and style.

Only The Fathers Love…Praise Break #2

God the Father, in His joy we are made Strong!

No matter what we must have gone through or are going through God the Father makes all anew with and in His Love, Mercy, Grace and Forgiveness.

God the Father, Loves, Protects and Provides.

I Love You just the way you are….Really?

Yemisi was “the babe” in campus, slim figured long legs very attractive and brainy too. After graduation she married her Uni sweet heart Michael…he was equally fine in looks and brains, they both complimented one another very well ( well that was my opinion)

Now she and Michael had been dating for about 4years and engaged the last year…Michael was so in love with her and she to him… anyone that knew them could see that, they were inseparable. We all attended the wedding, a most romantic and beautiful affair.

So you could understand my surprise to learn that they were separated… you know how rumours can be. I did not want to believe, until this faith day, I was walking out of a supermarket on the high street when I bumped into Yemisi…the girl was like a  size 16 ….she was still pretty but I just could not understand her weight gain…we exchanged numbers and agreed to met up at her place for Lunch the following day.

We had a pleasant meal, then sat down to catch up on our lives… she came out straight with it and told me she was now separated and in the process of a divorce …the expression on her face said it all … she was still getting use to the idea and not happy about it at all.

She now had 3 children and was working with one of the Telecommunications company in the City….I had to ask her what the reason of the break down in her marriage, many things crossed my mind, could it be infidelity ( it is most of the time ) it could not be children, she had 2 two boys and a girl. To my amazement, she said… I became to fat for my husband o! What? Are you serious? I exclaimed… she continued that as she started having children the weight piled on and became difficult to shift… but her husband kept telling her, he loved her just the way she was so she did not feel the need to do anything about it…Soon he stopped touching her, sex was none existent until one day he said he did not want to be with her and that he did not find her attractive anymore, all this after 8yrs of marriage. She said she did all to loose the weight, but by then there was no love left in her husband heart for her…

I ask, should that be enough to end a marriage. Should that be enough to stop loving your partner?

Would a woman divorce, if her husband became over weight? Or are men only driven to love visually? I wonder?

Peace out all….Leave you with that for a couple of weeks

DARFUR! 278 Reasons to care…

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor”
-Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African Bishop opposing Aparthied.

When Kimberly Smith, executive director of Make Way Partners, found James teaching under the trees, he had 150 orphans looking to him to share his education with them but he had nothing else to give. No food. No medical care. Not even a shelter to provide shade blistering Sahara sun.

Today, James has 400 orphans and thanks to the generosity of many he has open air classrooms where the children can at least have a roof over their heads. He is also able to feed them every day and on Wednesdays they even get meat. At this very moment, he is desperately working to get the funding to buy materials to finish dormitories for the little ones before the rains come. The children need shelter. They need protection. James knows.

He can’t forget the number 278.…

To read post in full, please go to http://everydaymiracle.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/278-reasons-to-care/#more-211

Ishmael!

Birthing Ishmael!

We all will experience hurts, disappointments and even betrayal by the ones we love and trust sometime in our journey of life. I guess that is why it is a journey of many paths… We will come to crossroads and have to choose what direction is best to travel, some may be roads well travelled, so you  have an idea of what may lay ahead others may be uncharted territory, one you would have to trail blaze yourself and some may just be wrong to walk!

Relationships become important, close ones became valuable and relied on, we’ll sometimes let others lead us down there path, let them set the tone or pace  of your journey, until things start taking a turn for the worst and the feeling of trust gets violated, love broken. We start to loose the lustre in the relationship.  You just want to give up  trying  any longer, and for the moment to ease the pain….To ease what ever pressure you long for, a soothing ointment ( could  be drink, drugs, work or in the arms of another) but not the true “balm”. But we know we need soothing, release for the moment!

It is at this point I say call out! shout out! even cry out! to the one that has a greater and better view of your journey. The one that created and knows you ….Please! Do not faint, for in your  weakness is when He shows up in His strength on your behalf.
 Do not miss your call, purpose, and destiny by selling your birthright for a morsel of porridge (instant gratification).  Do not walk in bitterness, unforgiveness and resentment for this will only birth more pain and revenge, but wait!…………. Less we birth “an Ishmael”

What is birthing an Ishmael you say……

You will have to go the bible and read the book of Genesis 16-21.

To paraphrase …. Abraham and his wife Sarah  were very old and had no child of there own, but were promised by God that they would have a child. In the impatience of Sarah, she encouraged her husband to bear a child with her maidservant called Hagar; she gave birth to Ishmael meaning God hears. By the time Ishmael was a teen  Sarah took in and gave birth to her son called Isaac (you see Gods word never goes back to Him unfulfilled)
Sarah later made her husband send Hagar and her son Ishmael away, cos she felt had become a treat to Isaac her son and cos Hagar had taunted her all the years after Ishmael was born….
Today the trouble in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestine is all a result of Sarah’s impatience.

Let us not in our pain, heartache and weakness  take the law /retribution, payback, revenge in our own hands….
The Journey is long with bends and turns,  up’s and down’s, the bumps on the road are many!
Be encouraged!

*an Ishmael*………….a temporal solution that could cause long term damage.

Mars and Venus get your act together!

Mars and Venus get you act together…

Every man wants to be “Lord”… like it or lump it PC generation.
A man wants to be a “MAN” why does that sound negative now days when a man says that (if he is able to say it aloud) 
A man wants to feel capable, wants to be the first called to solve a problem especial that of his wife/partner, he want to feel he is in control… tell me why does that sound bad?

Ok… I agree that there has been some who have taken “being a man” to ridiculous levels, to mean dictators, abusers, bullies and tormentors to both male/female, to there children, wives, mothers, and fathers. THey, have helped turn “being a man” to  now sound like a curse word. I am not talking about those men… Infact I cannot call those men but animals in human skin …as Fela would say.

We are living in a time in society now where the sexes have been bluded, there are no defined lines drawn…Men can not be men, women don’t know what it is to be “WOMAN” the roles are all mixed up in the name of civilisation, enlightenment, advancement and lets not forget good old “POLITICAL CORRECTNESS”

Every man want to be respected, honoured, he desires it. Regard is what fuels him knowing that he is relevant and needed, this powers him on… for example, have you noticed how  a man would react in a situation of a car breakdown, especially if there are females around. Even if he has never changed a tyre before or knows nothing about cars, there is something that rises up within him to make sure he looks out for the female present( that is not being male chauvinistic or feel that woman are not capable …it’s just natural ( why fight it ) thinking like this shows how women go to the attack of such action to mean they are weak instead of the feeling of being valued enough to be protected and defended to be looked after and cherished. ( call me old fashioned we need some of that back)

These has sipped into the home and effected the social breakdown of the family (IMHO)
A parent should be made up of “whole” men and “whole” women, but what we have now are confused, unsure, emasculated men that don’t know what being a man is let alone what being a father consist of….we then have women on the other hand who I would say “self abuse” in the sense that they have no self worth or pride in there womanhood that they want to be men, not even in the good sense, but all the negative aspects exaggerated. They brag about how much they drink, there sexual exploit. They have become female larger louts, in the UK there are women that are proud to be called “Laddetts” … they curse more, there morals are worst than that of a street dog!

They believe in the spirit of “what is good for the goose is also good for the gander” NO! It is not!

It has be said “educate a woman you educate a generation” that also applies in proper conduct, behaviour and a healthy self-esteem and self worth.

These women have nothing feminine about them. In the corporate world they are more ruthless than there male counterparts, in marriage they are competing with there husbands to head the home, to make more money than there partner, striving to rise in there career ( all for the wrong reasons) all the time struggling to prove there worth, by doing instead of just being.

The so called “liberated” woman has lost all the grace and instinct of being a woman. She has so liberated herself  that she can not ask for help anymore so she self destructs and carries a whole generation along with her….

 You tell me, how can these two kind of people come together and raise a healthy, well-adjusted family that would effect there society positively?

….a messed up child becomes a messed up man/woman becomes a messed up parent will only add to the society a messed up child, and the circle continues… In addition, we wonder why the world is messed up!

Scenario.

Parents are both chasing money and career, to keep up with the “Jones’s” house help, domestic servant, nanny ( what ever you choose to call them) are raising the children who are always looking like they stepped out of a designers runway, decked in there designer clothes.  After school to be picked up by the driver, only to get home and have dinner prepared and served by the house help/nanny. Tutor comes for an hour (expensive education) the best money can buy!  Mom and dad back from work at 7pm children in bed by 8pm and the circle continues the next morning…
who is raising the next generation?

What do we remember and  hold on to about our childhood? Its not the toys or clothes or what car we were driven in, but (for those who where blessed to have it good) you remember love from your mother, protection from your father, the talks and stories they told, the hugs and the feeling of security around you that gave you the confidence that you could do anything you set your mind to….

Should I go on…No!
I don’t just want to rant and I don’t want it to be said that I was being judgmental, that everyone is entitled to live there life the way they choose….I am all for that, thank God for freedom of speech (that it self was fought a person at a time, but will leave that for another time) All I am asking is that we consider a healthy balance, cos what we do as individuals effects the collective.

We are all responsible for the state of things in the society (good or bad) so if we want a better future for all we would have to take a good look in the mirror and maybe have to re-evaluate some choices and decision.

Meet my baby Sola…

What can I say, Easter was blessed!
I was in Nigeria (Lagos) for the break- so much happening, so much to do
emotions array at times, but still most of it pleasant.
If you have been frequenting this blog, you would know I have a passion for
Orphans and the gift called adoption.
I am involved with an organisation called LINKACHILD; they collect data about
orphanage in Nigeria, help in raising funds and the awareness of 7million
orphans in Nigeria.
It was more than a privilege to be part of this team as I accompanied Sina (linka
child Administrator) Shola (volunteer) Ada (volunteer) to the registration of a
newly found orphanage called Hope for all in Igbo Efon, Lekkie. This orphanage
was situated in an affluent area with 10 or more “mega churches” flanked on the
major road, mega houses and estates too, yet it reflected nothing of its
environment.
The building was massive, but rundown, there was no running water, the long and
short of it is, its in need of a major make over. As we walk through the dark
damp hallway to the nursery where the babies slept my heart sank!
Looking at the states of there nursery, it took me back to what my kids room
looks like. How I taught about my kids room  and how I did’nt feel it was still as good as i’ll like it to be….( then I see kids that have nothing ) ….I taugth about how my kids left there toys about the place and me forever shouting “put your toys away”

 There was little or no toys, the beds they slept in were ok, but the
mattress and sheets were filthy.
As we were introduced to the babies and told a bit of there story of how they
came to be in the orphanage, I came across a baby that just touched my heart. I
saw her and felt in my heart say” I could have given birth to you ” as she laid
there on her back looking ever so serious at me, then making a bodily gestures,
as if to say “pick me up” ” I want to get out of here” I picked her out
of the cot, with her still steering hard at me trying to study my face , looking
deep into me she finally gives me a little side smile..as if saying I like you ,
with your funny colour hair and dangly earrings” ( oh here I go
puuuuuuuuuulllllllllll)  we fell in love or should I say I fell in love with my
Sola ( as she is called)
I carried  her through out the visit and when it was time to go, I found it difficult
to leave her there. All the babies were beautiful; they all   radiated from
within. I could not understand how evil had been able to get them here, but had to
encourage myself that God had a plan for each of them and was looking out for
them.
I was told that there were other orphanages that were in worst condition, at
least this one had a benefactor by the name of Father Adegbite.
I did go back to see Baby Sola again on Easter Sunday before service with my
Hubby, there we meet a lady that came to see a particular baby she found , the
day he was born.
Due to the way his mother  must have stood giving birth to him (head first and
standing)he suffer injuries to his head and was  brain damage when he was found.

Just like the first time, leaving Sola was heart breaking, and as we drove along
Lekkie  Epe-expressway going to church passing all the other churches and people,
church goers in their best “Easter” outfits all feeling good about themselves I
felt a bit bitter with us ( yes me included) .
How is the kingdom of God going to come  when we forget we should be effective
in our community and be truly salt to the earth.?
I was staying in this community over the Easter break so I knew the amount of
wealth spent in the said community. How some people saw it as nothing to spend on
another designer bag or pair of shoe that they did not really need or gold
earring and necklace set to add to their already large collection of jewellery
Or the thousands of Naira (Nigerian currency) spent on a night out or day at the
beach, I wonder just if each church donated one Sunday s offering once a month,
what a way that money would go, not just to this particular home but all the
others in the area, that would truly be obeying Christ commandment of Looking
after the orphans and widows. A true act of worship to God!
That is what I call effective Christianity!
I will hopeful have more pic’s for you to see  of the visit  to HOPE FOR ALL FOUNDATION babies home at the end of the week at
www.linkachild.wordpress.com
Please for any kind of donation or more information on how you could assist Linkachild
please go to their website www.linkachild.org

PS: No, I am not adopting Sola. (you never know   ) I just see her as a catalyst, as a point to keep me going and to remind me that every little counts…I may not be able to reach all the worlds orphans, but I can reach her and all the other babies in this particular home that I and my husband are doing all we can to make there lives just a little better!

This is Love in action…

Have your tissues handy and see what Love can do…. How far Love would go to bring you HOME!

Avery and Heathers Adoption story…. in song.

Watch the post: THE VIDEO HEATHER MADE OF OUR ADOPTION STORY.

www.leaveittoavery.wordpress.com

HouseWife…what a waste!

I have a story to tell…

 

There was a young lady who got married had 4 children, decided to stay at home full time with her children has they grew. Her responsibilities included looking after the home and her husband.

 She was a graduate, very intelligent and business minded, but she loved being at home with the kids and did not see it as a scarifies, she enjoyed having the home just right for when her husband came in…

She had two other friends that where married and had kids… they made fun of her and called her “a kept woman” which she had no problem with, they found the fact that she got an allowance degrading (which she had to correct many a time, that she did not get an allowance)  but had no restrictions to the family finances, as she was responsible for the accounts and making sure the bills where paid.

When ever she was at a function or gathering of her husband clients or work colleagues, in the mist of career women, single and married ones, they always seem to, at first think there was something wrong with her cos, she introduced herself as a homemaker, which always  followed a pause… As if they felt they should speak to are like a child (cos maybe they taught she only understood baby talk) who knows! They would feel there was nothing she could contribute to the discussions.

But as conversation continued they would find out how intelligent and current she was… that would bring the next question…Why are you staying at home? you could get a nanny to do that job. You could be doing better things with yourself, using your degree and earning…  Instead of wasting away at home, and being dependant on your husband for everything.

She asked, tell me what is greater than the privilege to have a hand in bring up the next generation, not just preparing food and feed them, but feeding there minds, body and soul…getting to know your own  child. Experiencing there first experience… Do you think I sit around all day watching “Oprah”?

I enjoy  nothing more thanwatching my husband come home to a hot meal ready and waiting, he is reassured that his children are in the best possible hands.. He comes home to a neat and tidy house… He is not stressed about his home front cos he knows I have it undercover, so his mind is free to deal with the world outside his home; he is energized to go out again… After the world tries to beat him down, he knows his home is secure, safe and looks forward to coming back!

I am more than content she says… the first 5 yrs are important in a child’s development… They are the formative years and that is a part of life to experience too.

There would be stages they will not need me that much, but they would still be secure, reassured and confident to know I will always be there…

I ask what is wrong in being a stay at home mom, a full time mother or let just call it what it is….A HOUSEWIFE?

 

i leave you all to chew on that as i go chillout for the next couple of weeks!

 

Adoption Story#3…( A Poem )

   

Introducing a writer with a heart, her unique style always real and flowing deep….

“Just alittle something I was feeling from an adotopted child’s point-of-view (if I were adotopted. What would I write about? ….What would I say?…)

www.asheselah.wordpress.com ….Authour.

BELONG.

I have her eyes
But I wake each morning
to see your smile
Light up my bedroom before dawn.You pinch his nose
but I smell like your smell
After a tight bear hug
when you come home from work
always providing the best for me. I’ve got her mother’s ears
but I hear the joy in your voice
The deep sighs of relief
When you introduce me
As your very own.My hands are big like his daddy’s
And his daddy before that I bet
Yet, it is your loving strength
That protects me
From all that’s wrong in the world
And getter worse.So, while I may have come from another
It’s fun for me each day to discover
That I belong to you
And you belong to me
And we belong with each other.

Copyright (c) 2007.  Ashe.Selah.  All rights reserved. 

Mother is Gold (full-stop)

Just sitting here watching an animation story about Mother Teresa with my children
…..telling a story about a woman that gave all of herself for others..
A woman that from childhood… by watching and listening to her mother learnt to be of service… to show love in action… to be giving.

As a child she once gave away her shoes to a boy that had none and walk home bear foot…  Freely she gave away, had no fear in doing that… for she knew her own mother would understand…
This same act was repeated on the streets of Calcutta after answering the call of God to leave being a Nun to become a missionary to the poor and outcast …This she did without initial provision from the Catholic Church.
She was a mother to the motherless… A mother to other young women that knew and followed her… She nurtured, and cared for the poor.
 She showed love in action giving up her life in service to others…

A mother is not just the one that carried you in her worm and births you.  
A mother is not just the one that nurse and weaned you as a baby.
A mother is not just the one that feed and clothes you.
A mother is not just the one that stayed awake when you had chicken pox, measles, or a high fever when you were teething or suffered the flu…
A mother is not just that one that cut the crust of you pack lunch sandwich (just because you did not like it)
A mother is not just the one that was at every dance, drama or ballet recital you ever performed with the loudness voice in the audience to cheer you on…
A mother is not just that one that scarified that high paying job that would have kept her away from spending time with you …
A mother is not just the one that worried when you where growing…Watching you as you developed, and worried if you would ever walk, talk or read like every other child your age…
A mother is not just the one that dreams of a great future and would suffer any pain just to prevent you experiencing it.
A mother is not just the one that would work 3 jobs to make sure you have that dress for your school prom… 
A mother is not just the one that taught you how to cook (be it grudgingly) saying “no man will marry a woman that can not cook”
A mother is not just the one that advice you to be a responsible man and how to treat your wife.
A mother is not just the one that would lovely watch you sleep at what ever age and her heart melts and a sigh of Ahh..
mother is not just the one that carries her grandchild lovely and prays for a greater future… NO!

A Mother is all that and some…

What is a Mother to you?

To mine I say … HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
To all those women that have contributed to make me who I am so far …I salute you all!

To every single mother that has had to do it all by herself …I salute you!
To every mother that has loved and called into her heart a child not of her blood.. I salute you!
To every mother that has fostered child/children I salute you too!!

Thanks for sharing that gift called Love…for a mothers love is not a bond that can be broken!

Happy Mothers Day! (UK) 18th Of  March 2007

An Adoption Story…

I came across this site some time back and was totally blown away by the writing…when I went on to read the other articles to my amazement the author was talking of her process of adopting a child from Nigeria… and yes the couples are Nigerian too!

This is just an introduction of the subject of her and hubby’s adoption of there baby boy “baaboos” ( I just love his little nickname)

 “I am going to Naija in two weeks time, or sha by the end of the month. I should be in Naija until next year. It is going to be hard for Boo and I because he is going to be here most of the time. He will go back and forth. Well, it will be hard for me sha. I don’t know about him. But, I will miss my man, especially because I don’t really know when I will be back exactly. Okay, this is why. I have been hinting you guys about our adoption move. I was not really ready to talk in great detail about it. Even now, I am not really ready. When we went home, we visited a number of orphanages and motherless babies homes with a view to identifying a baby boy for adoption. Yes o, boy. Boo has always wanted a son and I just want a healthy baby. I wanted a daughter first but, where I am at right now, healthy baby will do just fine. There were so many administrative hiccups and a disturbing lack of frankness in certain places we visited. In the end, we identified a baby boy that we liked in a place that we were comfortable with. He is a cute little thing, with long limbs like my Boo. They told us the story of how he came to be there: life is hard. He was crying when we first met him. I wish I could tell you that I carried him and he stopped crying immediately. For where? The small man continued crying, o. It was actually quite embarrassing that he did not take to me, immediately. My Tanzanian friend, Charity and her Dutch husband, Jaab adopted two babies from
Tanzania after trying for years to have kids naturally. When Cha-Cha (as I call her) tells you the story of the adoption of their first child, you will just be crying. She talked about how when she and Jaab went to the orphanage, the baby was crying and as soon as she carried him, he stopped. She says that is how she was sure that that was their baby. Well, this baby did not give me any such assurance. He continued yelling his head off when I carried him. But, Boo and I took a liking to him all the same. I can still hear the sound of his cry now. I think there is a determined strength in that cry. My boisterous little one who will not keep quiet until he gets what he wants. Just in case you are getting any ideas, on that day, what he wanted was food. Eventually, he allowed Boo to give him a bottle”……

 Please go to http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/soul-sista-diary and read more.

I recommend Mummy and Baboos   Mixed Blessings, You and Me and Who Said Family is Easy?

I wish you all the best Soul-Sista, Boo and Baboos!

Before we even think about adoption…. Please let’s look after the Orphans!!!

As promised the interview….its long but an eye opener

Refinedone: Hello
olusinabelle: Hi Angela
Refinedone: …Hope this is a good time?
olusinabello: no way its a good time
Refinedone: Thanks for your reply.. Most appreciated
olusinabello: my pleasure
Refinedone: So where do we start…
Refinedone: I would like to take this first as an interview…
Refinedone: then we can expand with other stories.. If thats good for you?
olusinabello : ok
olusinabello : lets shoot
Refinedone: …First I’ll like to thank you for responding as you did…
Refinedone: Could you please tell me about what you do for Linkachild.. And how you got involved

 Meet the Administrator….

olusinabello : well I started working with link* ( linkachild)
olusinabello : as a volunteer sum three yrs ago
olusinabello : or let me give a background on myself…
olusinabello : If that’s ok?
Refinedone: Please do…
olusinabello : My name is Olusina Bello am 31 male ..single for now
olusinabello : I have a degree in history & international relations
olusinabello: I love reading , writing and doing research work
olusinabello : I also enjoy sports , soccer, basketball, volleyball, chess and snooker
olusinabello : I also am an avid runner
olusinabello : professionally I work with linkachild as the administrator
olusinabello : I am responsible for the day to day running of linkachild
olusinabello : and I report to the board of trustees
olusinabello : administration, liaising with the donors and the homes..

Adoption  in Nigeria…

Refinedone: Adoption is an issue I have a great passion for… what would you say is the response like in Nigeria Fostering and general attitude to Orphanages. I was in the country a few weeks ago… and saw something in the News about Orphanages… and the help needed…that did get to me
Refinedone: How does Linkachild help ?
olusinabello: Adoption in Nigeria is generally not as organised as it is in Europe and America
olusinabello : fostering is almost non existent
olusinabello : it works on paper…but in real life it doesn’t work that way
Refinedone: Please explain..
olusinabello : so many issues need to be tackled
Refinedone: I would think mindset would be one
Refinedone: cultural mindset that is…
olusinabello : the general structures are eroded, there is a general malaise in the system. In Lagos it takes between 2 months to 24 months to start and finish an adoption process
olusinabello ): the red tape and bottlenecks are too hectic
olusinabello : but those who persevere in the end get it

Link-a-child steps in…

olusinabello : as per linkachild we are not an adoption agency
olusinabello : we only assist those seeking to adopt by linking them with homes where they can get kids to adopt
Refinedone: but you work closely with Orphanages?
olusinabello : yes we do
olusinabello : the process is regulated entirely by the ministry of women affairs
olusinabello : we presently have about 86 homes on our database
Refinedone: What would you say are the challenges we have in this area… of Orphanages.. Do they get any Government funding? And how is it regulated?
olusinabello : Government homes get minimal funding
olusinabello : private homes rely on whatever they can find
olusinabello : That’s where we come in
olusinabello : we try our best to raise funds
Refinedone: I have to thank you so far for your time…
olusinabello: from October to date we have been able to raise about 1.2million Naira for different homes in our database
olusinabello : You are welcome
olusinabello : am glad I can help

Catholic church and Muslim women group….

Refinedone: I would like to know what practical assistance linkachild needs at the moment?
olusinabello : well for one we bear all our admin costs ourselves 100% of donations are sent directly to the homes. 
olusinabello: we don’t take anything for ourselves ..Which is against the normal convention?
Refinedone: wow!…
Refinedone: What about help from the Religious sector?
olusinabello : a lot of the homes are run by religious organisation ..The Catholic Church is very strong in that regards
olusinabello : also some Muslim women’s group run a number of homes
Refinedone: good to hear…

Funding…

olusinabello : however the major challenge as always is inadequate funding
Refinedone: why?  I wonder in a country like ours.. That should not be a challenge
olusinabello: we are trying to get steady funding to meet basic needs , food, clothing , shelter
Refinedone: Exactly how do you go about getting funding?
olusinabello : its an endemic issue of corruption
olusinabello: we solicit from donors and individuals by making representation  to them on behalf of the homes
olusinabello : for example we were able to get an oil exploration firm Addax Petroleumto build a water & power project for a home in Imo state
olusinabello: we also have successfully lobbied an auto firm , they will be spending 1 million naira each on two homes to help them improve their infrastructure
olusinabello : that’s roughly about $10, 000
Refinedone: Good News. And none of this is funded by our Government!
olusinabello: another bank is committing to spend about $120,000 this year on 6 homes
olusinabello : all that is private initiative instigated by linkachild
Refinedone: I celebrate your work….
olusinabello : don’t know if you heard Beyonce Knowles is  in the diamond association by making a donation of $10,000
olusinabello: to linkachild on behalf of Beyonce knowles
Refinedone: I read that on your website…
olusinabello: we hosted her to a party with some orphans during her visit to Nigeria in October of 2006
olusinabello: yep
olusinabello: so we do try to throw our weight around
olusinabello: but indeed we can do more
Refinedone: Yes of course!!
Refinedone: there is always room for more…
olusinabello : we need more funds to be able to reach more homes and more pple
olusinabello: we need to advertise and let more people know bout us
olusinabello: we need billboards , radio and television adverts
olusinabello: and you know all these cost money
olusinabello: most of our overheads go into travelling and visiting the homes
olusinabello: we can say proudly that we are the only organisation with up to date info on almost 90 orphanages in Nigeria
olusinabello: even the government doesn’t have the kind of info we have
olusinabello: all this we update regularly
olusinabello: from next week am off to the north for 5 days to supervise some of our projects and update info on some homes
olusinabello: so you see we need all the help we can get

Celebrate the trustees, staff and volunteers…

olusinabello:  This might shock you, apart from our trustees we only have two full time staff
Rrfinedone: paid staff?
olusinabello: myself and my colleague a female
olusinabello: yep…
Refinedone: the rest?
olusinabello: 3 volunteers for now
Refinedone: please what is her name.. She should be celebrated too
olusinabello: Herrietta Agboifo
olusinabello: but really its not about us
olusinabello: if people must be celebrated its the trustees
olusinabello : who put there money where their mouth is
olusinabello : they fund the work of linkachild and that itself is something

Closing comment…not quiet

Refinedone: What would be your closing comment on this issue… what would you like to pass on to others and hopefully encourage ppl to get involved one way or an other… if adoption is not an option at the moment and the fostering is not being regulated.. What about sponsorship….Volunteer work and contributing financially
olusinabello : from conservative estimates their are about 7 million orphans in Nigeria
olusinabello : let me correct a notion adoption is a viable option
olusinabello: its just that its a bit muddled presently
olusinabello: and it takes a lot of red tape
Refinedone: hmmm..
olusinabello: we welcome volunteers and sponsorship
olusinabello: the situation here is critical

HIV Babies…

olusinabello: HIV babies are cropping up
olusinabello: its not like its the end of the world don’t want to sound like an alarmist ..But truly we need to start paying attention to that epidemic, some kids are dying needlessly
Refinedone: That is self is an issue of its own
olusinabello: any agency or individual who feels like helping can get in touch wit us
olusinabello: yes indeed it is …
olusinabello: we just want to get as many pple involved as possible
olusinabello: there is so much to do and too few labours as the bible says
Refinedone: Well… we are going to have to break it all down… you have opened my eyes to so much
olusinabello : if we cant save everyone
olusinabello: at least lets save as many as we can
Refinedone: before we even start talking about adoption.. Just looking after the Orphans is what we should be tackling
olusinabello : yes most definitely
olusinabello : adoption should be an end product of being an orphan
olusinabello: but if we don’t keep the kids alive long enough for them to be adopted what happen…
olusinabello : we lose them
olusinabello : so while not neglecting adoption lets look
olusinabello : at how we can take care of the babies who are being dumped almost on a daily basis
Refinedone: my head is spinning with all the info you are dishing out … my heart just aches
olusinabello : Angela, if you  have seen the kind of pain I have seen in those kids
olusinabello : u cant help but feel passionate
olusinabello : its really heart wrenching
olusinabello : when you see a 3 day old baby on a rubbish heap
Refinedone: I saw an abandoned baby on tv .. still with the cord attached to her
olusinabello : left to die
Refinedone: I just cried
olusinabello : there are many like that almost daily
olusinabello : to see a kid die of HIV thru no fault of hers is even worse
olusinabello : I mean all the pain and suffering just because she couldn’t get anti retro
olusinabello : after a while u stop crying and get angry
Refinedone: Anti retro?
olusinabello : anti retro viral drugs
olusinabello : HIV medicine….
olusinabello: 80 % of kids wit HIV can’t get d drugs
olusinabello: cos most of them are in the villages
olusinabello: jus last month we had to transport a 3 yr old boy from his village to Lagos to get d drugs cos the doctors won’t dispense any drugs without seeing the kids in person
olusinabello : That is why linkachild becomes important
olusinabello : we give a credible outlet to get involved
olusinabello : we can guarantee that their donations will be getting to those who need it
Refinedone: Thank you so much for this Mr Bello …
I personally would like to celebrate the trustees of www.Linkachild.org  well-done and keep on doing what you’re doing…
To quote Mr Olusina Bello “they put there money where their mouth is” you did not just talk the talk but you have also walked the walk..

Trustees:

Mr.Oluwatoyin Subair
    – MD/ CEO Entertainment Highway Ltd,Principal Partner of Abraham & Co
Mr. Nzan Ogbe
    – MD Makarios Nig Ltd
Mr.Olanrewaju Kupoluyi
    – Director, KOS World
Mrs Toyin Bello
    – Director, TY Bello Photography
Mr.Mena Ajakpovi
    – Partner, Abraham & Co.
Mrs.Ololade Ososami
    – Managing Partner, Abraham & Co.