UK- based NGO moves to fight poverty

CONCERNED about how the current economic crisis in the country has inflicted enormous pain and misery on individuals and families, with many unable to afford food and basic supplies, a United Kingdom ( U. K.)- based nongovernmental organisation ( NGO), Refuge Network International ( RNI) has revealed plans to support vulnerable Nigerians through its empowerment initiatives across communities.

Through its ‘ No Poverty Campaign’, the network said the need to work to promote access to food, basic supplies, education, healthcare and an adequate standard of living for underserved individuals and communities, at this critical period was pertinent. Founder and Executive Director, RNI, Charles Gimoh, said this during its maiden outreach in Nigeria, at the Ikotun area of Lagos, where the group donated food items worth millions of naira, as part of its commitment to alleviate poverty in the community. Giving statistics about how over eight million people are struggling to eat in the UK, with many families and individuals skipping meals and how some have been forced into the streets due to the high cost of living, Gimoh, said Nigeria, like many other countries, including those in the developed world, are also grappling with serious economic challenges. Moved by the situation, he spoke about how the RNI, has supported many of those worst affected by the crisis, where its community kitchen has provided almost half a million meals and its food bank, clothes bank, hygiene and technology banks have distributed thousands of clothing, groceries, toiletries and essential items to vulnerable people in the UK. He said the group has achieved this by mobilising support from thousands of volunteers and enlisting the help of corporate organisations and groups for its community empowerment initiatives.

The RNI boss said this was also made possible through community partnerships with teams from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Coca- Cola, Penguin, Snapchat, M& S, Virgin Media 02, Natwest, Samsung and Timberland, among other organisations, where they generate resources to fight poverty and support the most vulnerable in the local communities. With a target to replicate this in Nigeria, through the Refuge Network Nigeria ( RNN), tagged ‘ No Poverty Campaign’, Gimoh said the network plans to mobilise thousands of volunteers and enlist the support of government, corporate organisations and groups to fight poverty and support struggling individuals, families and communities. Director of Special Projects Africa, RNI, Godfrey Gimoh, said the network plans to focus on sensitisation programmes to promote the health and well- being of individuals living in poor and rural communities, as well as the creation of skills acquisition and business development programmes to empower economically disadvantaged people.

He said it plans the provision of educational opportunities to disadvantaged individuals and groups to enhance levels and life prospects, provision of support, such as counselling, food, and relief materials to the homeless and destitute, as well as consultation and advisory services on matters relating to poverty and socioeconomic rights. Additionally, he said it plans the promotion of socio- economic rights- related projects, programmes, and activities in different ways using various media and supporting victims of individuals and communities of socioeconomic rights violations.