SmileandShine Children’s Foundation – a non-profit organization for children, aimed at preventing child sexual abuse, providing the needed help and support as well as emergency care and treatment with adequate follow up and rehabilitation for victims (children) of sexual abuse – will officially open in Lagos on Saturday 14, November 2020.
The NGO which is the brainchild of Dr. Nimi Ekere, a trained medical doctor and a consultant Family Physician. She is a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Family Physicians, a life coach, mentor and teacher, who is extremely passionate about children and young people walking in the right path to achieve their full potentials.
Speaking on her desire to combat Child Sexual Abuse, Dr Nimi revealed that the foundation was conceived out of her continuous interaction with victims of CSA. Some of the children while most were adults who were sexually abused as children.
“Smile and Shine Children’s Foundation started because I have a longing to end child sexual abuse. I had seen children become medically and psychologically traumatized because of the horrific experiences they were exposed to while some who never really recovered from those experiences committed suicide. I have seen parents lose the love of their children due to the fallouts of CSA. And I have seen people condemn victims or survivors rather than give them the help that they deserve while the perpetrators walk the streets like heroes,” She said
“The mission of SmileandShine is to help children not to get abused in the first place and in the sad event that it happens, we want to ensure that help is proffered and these children are afterwards reintegrated back into the society and become healthy adults regardless. I see child sexual abuse as a menace that we must all come together to fight, as we do not want the future of our children to be truncated from the horrific effects that it leaves on them.” She concluded.
The official opening of the Foundation tagged: Combating the Rising Scourge Of Child Sexual Abuse is set to be graced by eminent personalities in governance, business and religion including Lagos State Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, Access Bank MD, Herbert Wigwe, Former DG of NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Adol-Peterside, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and many more who will take turns to speak on various topics.
In an unending effort to end the widespread of CSA, Dr Nimi has written four age-appropriate and articulate books for children, teenagers and parents which will be launched at the event.
The books are:
- 1. Some Parts Are Special (for children aged two to seven years old)
- Setting Boundaries (for older children and pre-teens)
- Sparkles at Dawn (for teenagers and young adults)
- Into The Light (for parents and guardians)
The books will be available to the market for sale after the official opening of the foundation and launching of the books.
About the Foundation: SmileandShine Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization for children, aimed at preventing child sexual abuse, providing the needed help and support as well as emergency care and treatment with adequate follow-up and rehabilitation for victims (children) of sexual abuse.
For more information, visit www.smileandshine.org.ng
Tolu Olorunmoteni
For, Smile and Shine Children’s Foundation
Contact: 07031666121
