2024 Session 32 Report: Charitable Leadership

Itsekiri NextGen Project: 2024 Session 32 Report

• Topic: World Charity Day
• Date: 7th September 2024
• Volunteers Present: 6
• Total Number of Attendees: 67
• Timings: 09:00am – 1:00pm
• Venue: Former Caravan 4, Aja-Pessu (Pessu Town), Warri
• Main Topic/Activity: Charitable Leadership
• Resource Person: Itsekiri NextGen Team

Summary:

The session was divided into two parts: the first focused on raising awareness about sexual abuse, while the second part celebrated World Charity Day by discussing the importance of charitable leadership.

Session Delivery:

In observance of World Charity Day on September 5th, Itsekiri NextGen marked the occasion in a meaningful way during the session on September 7th.

Following the opening prayers and the Itsekiri anthem, the coordinator warmly welcomed the participants to a new month and session. As a gesture of goodwill, she distributed four pens and pencils to each participant, encouraging them to keep the items for themselves.

New volunteer Tosan Osandatuwa led a discussion on sexual abuse, emphasizing the importance of awareness. He covered topics such as how abuse begins, potential abusers, and the environments in which abuse may occur. Tosan stressed the need for parents, schools, organizations, and society to create a safe space for victims to speak up without fear of stigma. The aim is to foster societal change, one step at a time. Participants were encouraged to report any instances of abuse to trusted adults.

The coordinator then addressed the importance of being charitable as the participants are being groomed to become great leaders. She emphasized the necessity of showing empathy and kindness to others.

To engage the participants further, she asked why September 5th is recognized as World Charity Day. They correctly responded that it marks the anniversary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s passing. The coordinator highlighted her lifelong commitment to helping the poor and destitute by providing shelter, food, clothing, and medical care.

Encouraging participants to express love and kindness to those around them, even in challenging times, the coordinator prompted them to hold up their pens. She instructed them to keep two pens for themselves and to give the other two as gifts to classmates or friends at school. This simple act of kindness can have a significant impact on the recipients. In the next session, participants will share how their friends reacted to receiving the pens.

We look forward to hearing the responses from this charitable exercise and the impact it had on the young leaders.

Volunteers:

• Debi Amadedon
• Weyinmi Igbineweka
• Emmanuel Egbe
• Omatsola Okpeayaghan
• Tosan Osandatuwa

Other Key Activities During the Session:

• Interviews for the three-year anniversary documentary.

What Went Wrong:

Nothing went wrong; the session was successful and well-received.