Sylva Eberendu
Could you tell us briefly about your NGO?
IIMAC is a charity, non-profit organisation. It was founded in 2009, to fight for the rights of women and children by building strong communities that provide people with an opportunity to earn a dignified living, raise healthy families for a better generation, globally.
What is your main focus?Our main focus are women and children. We fight against trafficking, child abuse, domestic abuse in women and rape. We also aim to assist in areas of development such as migration, education, skill acquisition, loan, counseling, accommodation and job placements, free education for the youths, among others. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe world free from injustice against women and children across the globe.
What other areas is your NGO involved in?We are involved in carrying out training, providing jobs for the jobless irrespective of the gender. Girls who are out of school will be given training on a number of basic skills including tailoring, beauty, catering, baby sitting, providing them with startup capital, among others. This list is not exhaustive and if any of the women exhibit a particular talent in an area which is not listed above, we will accommodate these. Also, the organisation will provide catering services around the town as a source of income, and conduct community awareness on the effects of poverty and how it can lead to contracting of HIV/AIDS, untimely deaths, etc.
What are your key areas of empowering women?The key areas of interventions are guided by the thematic areas contained in the IIMAC National Gender and Women’s Empowerment Strategic Action Plan (IGWESAP) and the action plan from the International Women’s Conference which will be taking place soon. The thematic area for this call for proposals is Women Economic Empowerment and the focus areas are; policy, access to micro finance; access to markets and application of trade agreements; women’s green business, and women in non-traditional sectors. As a matter of fact, Nigeria is facing many social and economic challenges which make it difficult for women to provide for their children.
Do your activities centre only on the women folk?Not at all. We are helping the disadvantaged women and children including young men. We aims to promote self-determination by providing children with a safe environment, education and developmental programs focused on health, literacy in the English language, mathematics, vocational training, life skills, skills training and values required to become economically and socially empowered, self-sufficient, and productive citizens of their generation. This we do through internship, scholarship; apprenticeship and good leadership award programs
How do you hope to achieve all of these?We already have a proposal for promoting and establishing job opportunities and organising training workshops for the less privileged in the country. This will be further achieved through capacity building, volunteer network with grassroots organisations, coalition networks and by forging linkages among government, business and the citizen sectors to achieve social, economic and environmental justice. I also believe my experience in NGO activities in Asia has prepared me for the task ahead.
What about the area of funding and support?We are in touch with a United Nation agency and some friends in government are also assisting. Already, an organisation, known as DOOR is partnering with us. They have provided a vehicle and office complex for us in Ojodu.
Besides, we accept donations from those that believe in our dream.
What informed your decision to be involved in human rights crusade?IIMAC is dedicated to eradicating social and economic conditions which prevent individuals from acquiring basic human standard of living recognized in international law. We are committed to step up campaign against trafficking and smuggling of human beings. We are looking into trafficking in children mainly from farm labor and domestic work within and across countries; trafficking in women and young person’s for sexual exploitation mainly outside the region; and trafficking in women for the sex industry abroad.
Could you imagine trafficking through Morocco to Spain through the desert or high sea. Individual stowaways engage in life-threatening trips hidden aboard ships destined for Southern Europe, and recently they have headed as far as East Asia. Unscrupulous agents exploit these desperate youths with promises of passages to Italy, Spain, France and Germany. At the end, they are disappointed and made to engage in all manners of criminal activities like drug courier.
What is your manpower strength like?Our staffs include our volunteers who work closely as teams to provide help and support to women and children under our care to ensure that their living conditions meet basic human rights standards, by making sure their overall needs are met. The workers act as a liaison and advocate for the people in target areas.
Does IIMAC have any bias for a particular tribe or religion?IIMAC does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, tribe, religion, marital status, disability, age, life style preferences, and nationality. Our services are available to anyone in dire financial need and to persons committed to the organization’s tenet of giving back to the community through volunteerism or otherwise
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