Orphanages loosing recession battle as sponsors withdraw funds

As Nigerians continue to groan under adverse economic condition, numerous children’s homes are also struggling in the grip of the recession as most sponsors are forced to withdraw their funds from the institutions.

These homes have emerged over the years to carter for some of the social needs of indigent children. Most are saddled with the responsibilities of protecting and supporting the vulnerable children while working with the government and other agencies to promote social reforms that improve the rights of children in the country, and in the provision of medical care, counseling, as well as nutritional and material support.

The orphanages have found themselves under severe financial strain in view of the country’s economic recession. The donations, which represent their biggest source of income, have dried up as many donors, also hit by recession, are cutting back on their expenses.

Dupe Adekoye, who works with a children’s home, SOS, told BusinessDay that the recession had forced many of the sponsors to stop funding the home.

“since the recession started, most of the sponsors have slowly withdrawn from taking part of the sponsored child welfare,” she said, “The sponsors that were active in the last five years were 80 per cent but since the recession began, it has drastically reduced to 20 per cent.”

Jide Afolayan, a youth in the Home, noted that due to inadequate funds coming to SOS, the number of outings and trips have reduced.

In his words: “ Our outings have reduced because of inadequate funds, so much that celebrations and holidays such as Christmas and Easter are also disturbed. As a result of this, we cannot visit social centres and events too.

On the inability to attend schools of their choice as a result of the recession, he said: “Formally, SOS youths attended first class universities in the country but now, we barely attend any top universities. It is very bad to the extent that we do not have any choice than to attend Polytechnics or College of Education, which was not the case before.

“Also, during university application processes, you are forced to choose a public university instead of your choice of private university you intend for your studies due to lack of funds.

“Hence, some of us with future aspirations that require such private school experience and exposure don’t get such,” he concluded.

Also speaking,  Bukola Ayo-Ajayi, the home supervisor of Royal Diamond Home in Lagos State, noted that the response from sponsors is not as much as it used to be.

According to her, the funds that are used to run the home now come through “the help of God,” self-finance and little sponsors such as individuals, churches and some corporate organizations, among others.

“Even though the home has been running more on self-finance, the turnout of sponsors towards the home has reduced, compared to what we used to have.

“The only thing is that the gifts and other donations have reduced. Aside that, the home is doing fine,” she stated.

She urged both individuals and government to show love, care and affectionate to the children so that they can also have a bright future, adding that doing this, will solely put smiles on their faces.

A worker at God’s Children Home in Osogbo, Osun State, Folorunsho Adeosun, also said, “It has not been easy. Many of our donors are from Lagos and they used to give without being reminded to do so. We do send reminders twice to them, but the responses we have got so far are not like what we used to get.”

Another worker in one of the Cheshire homes in Ibadan, Oyo State, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the story to be true.

He said: “Majority of donors who came this year were aged people who only came to thank God for granting them longevity. Even the politicians are not coming like they did last two years.

“The children are helpless; some of us working here do so voluntarily because we do not base our commitment on commensurate remuneration.”

He, however, appealed to the public, especially wealthy individuals and corporate bodies, to help these children.