Rose of Sharon Foundation Holds 10th Anniversary June 23
Peter Uzoho
Rose of Sharon Foundation (RoSF), a humanitarian and empathy-driven organisation, focused on alleviating the plight of widows, fatherlesschildren and orphans will be celebrating its 10 years of existence.
The occasion billed to take place on June 23, 2018, same day with the International Widows Day, at the Queens Park Event Centre, Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos with the theme:‘Widowhood: Hope in the Midst of Despair, will feature prayer sessions, praises, discussion, empowerment and award.
Announcing the upcoming event at a press conference in Lagos Wednesday, Founder, Rose of Sharon Foundation and billionaire oil magnate, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija, disclosed that the foundation would be increasing the number of its beneficiaries by another 350 before year end, stressing that 100 out of the 350 would be empowered at the anniversary ceremony.
“We’re excited to announce that our foundation is 10 years old and we’re immensely grateful to God for all He has used us to accomplish in the lives of our widows, their children and orphans,” Alakija said.
“This foundation commenced from a divine call by God in James 1:27, instructing me to assist His widows and orphans. The celebration of grace has now begun,” she noted.
Also known as the servant leader, Alakija stated that the programme of the organisation provides financial and educational support to such vulnerable group of people up to tertiary level and vocational training whenever the need arose.According to her, a journey that started with three widows on May 23,2008, has empowered over 3,000 widows through vocational skillsacquisition and awarded scholarships to 1, 366 widows’ children and 86orphans.
“The loans to widows are interest free and the scholarship has no condition attached. We have also provided accommodation for residential and business purposes for 82 widows. Furthermore, in conjunction with our partners, we have provided free healthcare and free legal services to our widows and orphans at various times. “Many amazing things have happened since we started in 2008. God hasused us to touch lives in ways they never thought of nor imagined.
Many a tear has been wiped away; many a sorrow has been transformed into laughter; inferiority has been changed to confidence; poverty has been transformed into economic independence, and many have been taken off the streets and into classrooms,” she said.
Alakija added: “I feel tremendously privileged to be a part of this vision and really elated at the commitment shown by the Chairman and Board of Trustees of the foundation for the furtherance of our work and goals. It has been a walk of faith, victory and celebration. We have seen lives transformed and stories changed from helplessness to hopefulness, from weakness to strength and from fear to courage. God has continued to be faithful.”
Meanwhile, the foundation will embark on a walk this weekend as part of activities lined up for the anniversary ceremony, to create awareness on the challenges of widows, their children and orphans, and to canvass support for this category of vulnerable people in the society.