Communal Care Center celebrates 2022 White Teens Concert in grand style …Executive Director, Bennett gives award to monarchs, schools

By Stanley Okehie…

It was all joy, last Thursday at Oguta Civic Center, Oguta Council Area, where Communal Care Center, a non-governmental organization, celebrated the 2022 White Teens Concert, an innovation by the organization to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender based violence.

The concert was also used to give awards to some deserving Imo traditional rulers in appreciation of their support to the ActionAid SLOC-VAWG project implemented by Communal Care Center.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director, Communal Care Center, Mrs. Colette Bennett said the programme featured dance, drama, quiz, debate, poem and art exhibition by the participating schools the organization is also using to implement the ActionAid SLOC-VAWG project.

She expressed happiness that the students were able to draw out issues around gender based violence using art, drama, poem and debate.

According to her, “we are also using this concert to celebrate and appreciate those that have supported us in achieving positive outcome in the ActionAid SLOC project on ending violence against women and girls. We are appreciating the three traditional rulers from the three autonomous communities we implemented the project.

“In Oguta, for instance, we were able to get the consent of the traditional ruler to stop all harmful widowhood practices.

“In Ozuh Omuma autonomous community, the issue of female genital mutilation was abolished, courtesy of our effort.

“And, in Akabo, come 27th of this month, they are going to end the age-long ban on melon planting. So we are celebrating them for all they did to make the project a reality.”

The CCC Boss who was full of praises to ActionAid for their support financially and otherwise, however expressed happiness that through the ActionAid project, violence against women and girls had been reduced drastically in all the communities the project is being implemented.

She however advised violators of human rights to stop forthwith and begin to see victims as their relatives, adding that any harm done to individuals trickles down to the family and to the society.

Imo State Coordinator of National Human Rights Commission, Mrs Ukachi Ukah at the occasion, educated the students on their rights.

She listed some of their rights as right to life, right to education, right to dignity of human person, right to fair hearing, among others, which she said are all important in order to be well protected.

Whilst charging the students to always speak out and report crimes, violations and abuses, Ukah appealed to everyone to join hands and condemn violence against women and girls.

Executive Coordinator, Sisters with the Goal Initiative, Marjorie Ezihe and Mrs Joy Onuoha took turns to sensitize the students on gender based violence.

Highpoint of the occasion was presentation of awards to the traditional rulers of Oguta, Ozuh Omuma and Akabo autonomous communities.

Schools that participated in the programme are Priscillia Memorial Secondary School Oguta, Kings Standard Secondary School Oguta, Devine Favour Secondary School Omuma and Technical Secondary School Omuma.