DEKAP seeks support for underprivileged children

A newly established organization dedicated to providing early childhood education to less fortunate kids, Destine Kids Assistance Program or DEKAP, is appealing to the Government of Liberia to assist less fortunate children in the country.

DEKAP, established in March 2012, currently provides free education to unprivileged kids in several communities in Monrovia as a way of responding to the appalling situation confronting children and women in the society.

The local organization is also concerned about social, financial, education and shelter problems facing children of disadvantaged parents, including the visually impaired, who have become street beggars.

Speaking to reporters in Sinkor on Sunday, September 13, 2015, at a fund-raising and song service program, the Executive Director of DEKAP, Mrs. Helena Wenneh, said the organization is both national and community based, with the primary objective of soliciting educational opportunities for children in difficult circumstances.

Madam Wenneh said the organization serves as an intervention tool in responding to the plight of children, specifically in the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex community where underprivileged kids are seen during school hours roaming the streets in filthy clothes, bare footed and hungry.

“It all started as a self-initiative that provided sponsorship for 10 kids in community schools and empowerment package for their parents, as well as minimum lunch at our home for these kids,” she said, indicating that the mission of the program is to seek empowerment of children and youth through education, sponsorship, leadership development, as well as the provision of entrepreneurial skills in order to make them become productive and independent she said.

According to her, Destine Kids Assistance Program also seeks education attainment for children living in difficult circumstances, reduce illiteracy and contain poverty. “Our programs are geared towards providing hope for the hopeless and future to less privileged children in various communities of Liberia,” she said, adding that the procedure includes engaging parents to make them to understand that the organization would help in sending their children to school because of the need for them to be educated like their friends in the same community. “Presently, we are working with 48 kids in 22 communities in Montserrado, and we have extended our services to 3 rural counties, including Totoquelleh, Bopolu District in Gbarpolu county, Gold Camp, Gola Koneeh District in Grand Cape Mount county and Joseph Town, Senje District in Bomi county,” she indicated.

According to Madam Wenneh, the organization’s desire to helping others is not that it has much, but to make the less fortunate feel that people are concerned about them. “Though we complain about things being hard, we must all help our brothers and sisters who are in need.”

“And we are saying that if we must call young people future leaders, there should be a need to support them in their academic activities; we want every peaceful Liberian to give to less fortunate children, because government alone cannot do everything for its citizens. We ourselves must stand on our feet in making sure that the less fortunate children are well supported,” Madam Wenneh stressed.

By Lewis S. Teh