Spreading Hope in JIKWOYI: Benzone Development Foundation’s Final Outreach of the Year
In Jikwoyi, a suburban community located on the outskirts of Abuja but not far from Kurudu (the fourth location for our year-end initiative), families living in poverty and struggling to provide for their daily needs wonder what the festive season would look like. Some hold on to hope but also to the realisation that it might just be another day for them where they are surrounded by abundance and joy but do not partake of it.
It was in this context the Benzone Development Foundation chose to make Jikwoyi the final stop in our end-of-year outreach. For these struggling families in Jikwoyi, the spirit of hope and festivity arrived in the form of Benzone Development Foundation’s final outreach initiative of the year.
The Jikwoyi outreach was especially meaningful. For us at the BDF, it marked the culmination of weeks of preparation and effort by the foundation’s volunteers, who had worked tirelessly to ensure that no community in need was left behind. For the families at Jikwoyi, it provided the much-needed support to over 30 families, many of whom were low-income earners struggling to make ends meet.
Having already visited several other communities, including Kurudu, Lugbe, Kubwa, and Kabusa, our team of volunteers was well-prepared for the day’s outreach. Previous experiences with the other outreach locations had imparted the importance of planning and collaboration with local leaders to ensure that the distribution reached those who needed it most.
Like with the previous outreaches, the Benzone Outreach Packs filled with essential food items, including bags of rice, cartons of noodles, cans of vegetable oil, and food spices and seasonings were the stars of the show. These simple items would go a long way in ensuring that the families in Jikwoyi could prepare nutritious meals during the festive season so they are not left out of the festivities.
The distribution of food in Jikwoyi was much more than just a charitable act—it was a moment of joy and gratitude, shared between the foundation’s volunteers and the community. As the families arrived to receive their outreach packs from underneath the setup canopies, the atmosphere was one of warmth and appreciation with palpable joy in the air. Children played nearby—as children do—while their parents, many of whom were overwhelmed with gratitude, shared stories of their struggles and hopes for the future.
The Benzone Development Foundation’s visit to Jikwoyi marked the final success in a series of impactful outreach events that spanned multiple communities across Abuja. Through this initiative, we were able to provide essential food items to hundreds of families, enabling them to partake in the festivities while strengthening our resolve and commitment to continue serving underserved communities, reiterating our belief that meaningful change is possible, step by step and community by community.
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We want to empower more underserved communities in Nigeria. With your partnership, we can do this and more. While these stories may seem common or usual, we must never forget that these are real people who are economically disadvantaged, impoverished and often daily wondering where their next meal will come from.
Join us to make a difference. It is our aim to combine charity with empowerment so we begin to see real change. With your partnership, we can provide not just food items but education and skill acquisition in these communities.
