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 CHRISTABEL OTUERORO FOUNDATION 

                                                                 PROFILE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

August 21, 2010 at the Local Government Health Centre, my wife was delivered of a baby girl, we were happy and filled with joy as any other parents would. After a while, we noticed some kind of unusual signs in her (our baby), when it was time for her to sit like every other child would, she couldn’t, not until Eight (8) month after her birth.  she started crawling after a year and 3 months, she did this with her buttocks, at this time, her mates were already walking, that was when we were directed to visit UBTH that all is not well, that a child of her age should be walking not crawling, we where ignorance in all this, thinking all children have their own time to either sit, stand and walk, due to what we were told.

At UBTH, after critical analysis, test (EEG) and other series of test, we were made to understand that she is born with challenge, her birth history shows that instead of a proper labor it was a forced labor, the midwife instead of referring 

her to a specialist hospital for either CS (Cesarean secession) or other professional means of delivery, she (midwife)forced the baby out of the mom. The Doctor went on to say the mom and the baby were lucky to be alive. If I knew they were having trouble delivering the baby, I would have had her transferred to a Specialist Hospital. The Doctor at UBTH further confirmed that during her birth, she drank water and as a result, she didn’t cry and was unable to breath in the first air that supposed to circulate round her brain, due to this, some cells in her brain had been affected, on hearing this I and my wife broke down and wept uncontrollable, i said to myself she is far too young and tender to go through such ordeal, the Doctor comforted us and told us, all will be well if only we show her enough care and love, most especially we need to be extremely patience with her, that once we discover her area of challenges we should help her deal with it. 

We were later referred to the occupational therapy section, where she undergoes her therapy twice a week.

After one year and eight month, she started standing, this she couldn’t do before the therapy, after 2years and 3months she started walking. When we discovered her challenges and we are help her deal with it and also make sure she get all the support she can get.

Not all children are fortunate to have parents who are wealthy and able to fly them abroad for proper medical attention, not all children are as fortunate to have parents that are patience and understanding  like I and my wife, some children are seen possessed, demonic, evil etc. reason why some of this innocent children are thrown in refuse dump, toilet pit, poisoned, some parents commit infanticide, while some are ashamed to be identified with them, in other cases they are locked up in isolation, they suffer so much hatred, stigmatization, denied of basic education by those who ought to show them love and care.

With our experience, a vision was birthed in August 19th 2013, to help other parents from making the same mistake we made and parents who already suffering the same challenges, we carry out sensitization programs for pregnant women along with their husbands for them to embrace qualified health centers, educate and encourage parents who already have children with challenges to accept them with love, care and exercise enough patience with them, using our own experience as a reference point. Our drive and passion in doing this had known no bound.

Today we have been able to reach parents and children living with challenges, both in urban and rural areas of Edo State with support from few individuals and organizations both public and private organizations 

ABOUT US

Friends of Special Children Foundation (FSCF), is a non-governmental organisation (NGO)founded August 2013 with advocacy office in Edo State, we advocate‘s for the rights of children born with challenges during and after birth such as slow learners, albinos, deaf and dumb, physically and mentally challenged, physiological and psychosomatic deformation etc.

We have been involve in series of public enlightenments, Television and radio programs, in market places, community engagements, seminars, workshops and forums where stakeholders gather to deliberates on issues regarding children living with challenges.

We also partner with other NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, and Government Agencies in achieving our goals and objectives.

Every 24th December we organise Christmas party for children, especially special children.

Scholarships are given to children who are fit to go through school whose parents either could not afford or refuse to with support from partners.

We render supports to parents, psychosocial counselling, financially and morally.  

Our doors are open to volunteers who are willing to work with us, so much work to do.

FUNDING

We generate funds from both local and international friends.

VISION 

A society where the special child achieves their full potentials and regarded as every other regular child.

MISSION

To bring an end to stigmatization of the special child, proffering solution by means of ending the main cause, through engaging the public in health, education, enlightenment and rallies. 

CORE VALUES

Integrity, Transparency, Accountability, Innovativeness, Collaboration, Selfless Services and Professionalism

OBJECTIVES

FSCF is exclusively charitable and developments oriented working on children living with one challenge the other focus in Edo state and include but are not limited to the following: To mobilize public and private sector for the purpose of proffering solution through awareness.

To facilitate improved networking and collaboration among NGOS in related thematic focus.

         To work for the future of the special child. 

 To act as official month piece in the matters affecting special children.

To build link and bridges between the special children and their parents, siblings, peers and the general public.

To address issues of marginalization and exclusion of special children from certain segments of the society.

                            For further information contact:
              FRIENDS OF SPECIAL CHILDREN FOUNDATION
34,Aruosa Street off Sokponba Road, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
              Email: fscf2@yahoo.com  fscfng@gmail.com
                              http://fscfng.blogspot.com/
                                   Tel: +2348091439226