Close-Out Ceremony of the Mentorship Clinic – Adosoba Community
On the 18th of September, Devatop Centre for Africa Development held the close-out ceremony for the Mentorship Clinic in Adosoba Community.
The ceremony marked the completion of the 6-month Mentorship Clinic which provided Child Domestic Workers (CDWs) with a safe space for peer support, learning on personal development – including self-discovery, self-esteem and confidence building, communication and soft skills – as well as mental health support and counseling.
The event was attended by 21 CDWs and their guardians, including community leaders, chiefs and community influencers who were present to witness and celebrate the milestone.
During the event, the children reflected on what they had been taught through a brief presentation on the child rights protection framework, advocacy, and reporting pathways. They were encouraged to apply the learnings from the Mentorship Clinic in their daily lives.
Guardians were also reminded of the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the CDWs in their care, supporting the children, and ensuring they are not maltreated or exploited in any way.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of Mentorship Kits to the children. Each kit contained a school bag, textbooks according to the child’s class, dictionary, sandals, a pair of socks, T-shirt, wristband, notebooks, affirmation cards, water bottle, pencils, colour pencils, water colour pack, and grammar/vocabulary improvement books. The kits were received with great excitement and joy.
Guardians expressed their gratitude for the Mentorship Clinic. One guardian affirmed that the classes had a positive impact on the CDW in her care, noting visible improvements in confidence and behaviour.
The close-out ceremony served as an opportunity to celebrate the learnings from the six months of training, encourage guardians to continue supporting CDWs and creating an enabling environment for them, and put smiles on the faces of the children as they enter a new academic session. This was achieved, as the children were filled with joy and gratitude.
