Peniela Joy Children’s Foundation Holds Boy-Child Educational Outreach

… As Governor Umo Eno’s Aide lauds initiative

Peniela Joy Children’s Foundation has successfully executed its Boy-child Educational Outreach with pupils of Community Primary School, Orukim, Mbo Local Government Area and Secondary School Etoi, Uyo, benefiting.

The initiative, which is aimed at raising and supporting responsible, confident and purpose-driven boys for the development of a better society, is the vision of the founder of Peniela Joy Children’s Foundation, Mrs Alice-Joe Mfon. At Community Primary School, Orukim, School Uniforms and customised exercise books were distributed to all boys in the school, while their female counterparts received free exercise books for showing up in solidarity.

In a related development, the Peniela Joy Children’s Foundation also held the Educational Outreach at Secondary School Etoi, Uyo, where issues affecting the Boy-child were extensively examined.

Addressing the participants at the event, Mrs Alice-Joe Mfon Henry observed that the Boy-child has suffered technical neglect as the society intentionally concentrates on the Girl-child, explaining that Peniela Joy Children’s Foundation seems to remedy that lapse.

Her words: “In our society, while the empowerment of the Girl-child has been necessary and commendable, it has, in some cases, unintentionally led to the neglect of the Boy-child. Our Foundation stands to restore balance because no child should be left behind. Both the Boy-child and the Girl-child are vital to the future we envision.

Mrs Alice-Joe Mfon Henry tasked parents and caregivers to intentionally train the Boy-child with purpose and compassion so they can grow up responsibly without being a threat to the girls or scourge to the society at large. She pledged that her Foundation will support, enable, and empower any Boy-child who demonstrates discipline, excellence, and integrity.

In his goodwill message, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umo Eno on Ethical Orientation, Rev. Osondu Ahirika, PhD, commended the founder for prioritising the welfare and development of the Boy-child. Dr Ahirika observed that the humanitarian gesture aligns with the State Government’s ARISE Agenda considering the enormous investment in education, ethical and moral sensitisation of the populace. He gave the Boy-child a moral code of saying a firm, “No” whenever they come under peer pressure to do evil, join secret cults, abuse drugs, or indulge in criminal actions.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Principal of Secondary School Etoi, Pastor Joseph Bassey, commended Mrs Alice-Joe Mfon Henry for the vision and the outreach, and for choosing the pupils of the School as beneficiaries. He prayed to God to bless her endeavour and urged the participants to imbibe the lessons of the outreach.

Delivering a keynote address, Barrister Inimfon Sampson tasked the boys with self-discipline, moral conduct, and understanding the meaning of “No” when dealing with the opposite sex.

Highpoints of the event included a drama presentation, a debate competition on the theme ‘The Boy-child is more neglected than the Girl-child’, distribution of writing materials, T-shirts, and other gift items, as well as cash prizes to the winners of the debate presentation, which involved all classes of the Secondary School.