Close-Out Ceremony of the Mentorship Clinic – Okoko Community
On the 25th of September, Devatop Centre for Africa Development held the close-out ceremony for the Mentorship Clinic in Okoko Community.
The ceremony marked the successful completion of the 6-month Mentorship Clinic which provided a safe space for Child Domestic Workers (CDWs) for peer learning, personal development – including self-discovery, self-esteem, confidence building, communication and soft skills – as well as mental health support and counseling.
The event was attended by 24 CDWs and their guardians, alongside community leaders and influencers who came to witness and celebrate the children’s growth.
A key highlight of the ceremony was presentations by the children. They presented poems on their experiences and learnings from the clinic. One poem resonated deeply with everyone present, ending with the powerful words: “I Have a Voice, I Have a Future, I Have a Dream.”
Guardians were also given the opportunity to share their experiences. Two guardians spoke passionately about the impact of the clinic.
One guardian shared that her CDW is now more confident and has self-worth. She added that she herself, as a guardian, has become an advocate for child protection following the community sensitization that led to the establishment of the clinic.
Another guardian echoed the same sentiment, adding that the program helped her not only as a guardian but also as a teacher. She shared that through the training, she was able to recognize children going through difficult times in her classroom, specifically a girl who was going through abuse, and she was able to ensure the case was followed through to resolution.
The children were presented with Mentorship Kits containing school bags, textbooks, dictionaries, sandals, socks, T-shirts, wristbands, notebooks, affirmation cards, water bottles, pencils, colour pencils and other learning materials. The kits were received with great excitement.
The ceremony celebrated the transformation, confidence and voices of the CDWs over the past six months, while encouraging guardians and community members to continue creating a safe and enabling environment for every child to thrive.
