Virgin Heart Foundation, a youth-led and women’s
rights organization based in Imo State, is calling on parents, caregivers,
community leaders, and policymakers to embrace positive parenting practices as
a key strategy for raising confident, responsible, and emotionally healthy
children especially in the face of the social and economic challenges affecting
the state.
The Executive Director of the Organization, Peace
Dike stated this during a two day training of 30 Community Volunteers on
Positive Parenting, child protection and violence prevention to lead parent’s
education sessions in the state. This
she mentions, strengthens children’s self-esteem and resilience, Improves
academic performance and decision-making skills, reduces the likelihood of
violence, exploitation, and risky behaviors, and Promotes mental well-being and
healthy social relationships.
Positive parenting is an approach that emphasizes love,
guidance, communication, respect, and consistent support rather than fear,
punishment, or neglect. It focuses on building strong parent-child
relationships, fostering open communication, and guiding children with empathy
while setting clear boundaries.
She regretted that most children in the state are growing
up in a context marked by insecurity, economic hardship, peer pressure, and
harmful cultural norms. Some of these child abuses and negligence ranges out of
school children, sexual defilement and exploitation, child prostitution, street
hawking and early marriage as a result of teenage pregnancy.
Speaking at a recent family engagement workshop in
Owerri, Representatives of UNICEF Child Specialists, Kenechukwu maintained that
the
program centered on raising awareness about peace, responsibility, and
effective parenting. She also stated that the reason for the training is to
empower 30 volunteers in Oru east, Oru West, Nkwere and Nwangele LGAs, Imo State to identify and train 40 parents
and households on positive parenting
(towards prevention and response to sexual violence against children in the
state.
Mr. Victor Atuchukwu re-emphasized on the need for
communities to own this program and ensure children are protected, as it is
UNICEF mission to see that all children in Imo State are saved from all forms
of harmful practices and violence. He reminded the participants of the need for
early communication and home schooling with children on their reproductive
rights and body autonomy.
He
highlights the need for the state to execute the child protection laws in
Nigeria. He referenced the Child Rights Act of 2003 and emphasized the
importance of both awareness and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms
to safeguard children’s rights.
Some of the Participants, shared stories of the
trauma and hostile experiences during their
childhood, due to poor parenting, poverty and negligence.
Virgin Heart Foundation is a youth-led and women’s
rights organization based in Imo State, with focus on Gender Inclusion, Gender
Justice, Digital and Civic Space, Research, and Sexual and Reproductive Health
and Rights (SRHR) and Child Protection.
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