Foundation trains destitute girls on life changing skills

A faith-based charity organization, the Daughters of Abraham Foundation (DOAF), as part of its programmes to promote the transformation of destitute girls and women on October 29, 2015, staged the graduation of 13 out of the trained 24 “daughters” of the foundation.
The graduates, according to the Director of DOAF, Evangelist Margareth Bargo, have five girls, who once trudged the streets. All the joyful graduates were presented with certificates after training in tailoring, hair-dressing, home economics, among other vocational careers.
The DOAF director said her organisation enrolls girls and women in need and those who had suffered abuse as well girls who once saw the streets as their home.
She said: “We train them in the way of God, and make sure they are acquainted with various entrepreneurial skills for a better life and fulfillment.
“In these days of increased violence and wickedness, God’s people must draw strength from high, in order to be able to forgive the ungodly oppression and suppression characterized by wanton killing of innocent people, abuse and molestation of the vulnerable and wickedness among us.”
One of the ‘daughters’ and beneficiary of the Foundation’s training, Dorcas Davou, who hails from Plateau State, said she was grateful to the Foundation because she has been exposed to the word of God and now has a good skill that would sustain her. On what she was doing before recruitment by the Foundation, she stated that her journey to the Foundation was due to the hardship she faced in meeting up with her school fees.
Another recipient of the certificate, Marfa Sambo, said prior to the intervention of the Foundation in her life, she was practically doing nothing, but she is now happy, not only because of the skills she acquired, but because she has also accepted Christ and would forever hold on to Him.
The Director, while expressing joy in seeing to the successful training and graduation of the daughters, recalled that although the graduation  marked DOAF 21st anniversary, she was happy  that the foundation despite the numerous challenges,  has been able to empower a total of 357 daughters over the years, noting that over 80 per cent are doing well in their chosen vocations.
She stated that every year, the organization usually executes a project that tilts towards restoring the dignity of womanhood, pointing out that those who are molested and those who have lost their self worth should not be abandoned. She noted that the organization has serious concern for those that venture into prostitution as a means of livelihood and their spiritual life.
“God has helped the daughters to realize their need to go back to the Lord, and we saw them making personal efforts to make choices that glorify the Lord. These are changes seen in their moral and spiritual growth. Though the majority of the girls came into the Foundation looking rejected and depressed, with little or no self-worth; today, they are singing songs of praise and thanks to God for what He has done for them through the Foundation. A total of 24 daughters were admitted into the Foundation for transformation and various skills programmes. Today, a total of 13 have successfully completed the training, nine will continue till next year, while three dropped out of class because they could not cope with the vigorous training required.
Explaining the constitution and capacity of the staff members, from whom the graduates have benefited, she said: “We thank God for His provision. At the beginning of the year, three full- time staff joined the service of the Foundation; we had three new volunteers, while one of the old ones dropped out. The total staff is now 16 full-time staff and four volunteers, making a total of 20 workers.
“This increase in staff has also made it possible for the management to introduce new programmes such as Business Studies and Computer Application. God willing, next year, there will be internship programme of six months for DOAF graduates, who have done very well in their class work’s continual assessment”, she said.
The president of the organisation, Mrs Esther Bigun, while advising the graduates, extended her gratitude to the grand patron of DOAF, Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni,  and the Founder, Mrs Julie Useni, for their faithfulness in standing with the Foundation since its 21 years existence and their contribution to the sustenance of  various programmes.
She urged the graduating daughters to reciprocate the act of love by remaining steadfast in the faith. “Use your working implements and the shops that you will establish as means of bringing people into the kingdom and keeping the vision alive. Be kind and courteous to your customers, appreciate and apologize to them when necessary”, Bigun advised them.