By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A humanitarian group in Akwa Ibom State known as Child’s Rights Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) has said that it has reintegrated and reconciled over 8,000 vulnerable children to their parents since inception in 2003 in the state.
The Chief Executive Officer of the CRARN, Mr. Sam Itauma disclosed this to newsmen as the organisation marked its 20th anniversary celebration in Eket on Sunday.
He explained that the centre has rehabilitated, reconciled, integrated and reunited a lot of vulnerable children back to the society in the state.
Itauma lamented the situation where the vulnerable children were labeled witches and stigmatised in the state
“Our efforts have rehabilitated more than 8,000 vulnerable children who have either accessed support from us or rescued from our CRARN facility,” Itauma said.
He noted that about 15 vulnerable children had graduated, 20 graduated from College of Education and 25 are in tertiary institutions in the state.
Itauma noted that the centre has been able to put six structures in the centre and has a school called CRARN Academy in the state.
He noted that the centre has been looking for support from public spirited individuals, companies and non governmental organisations to better the lot of the vulnerable in the society.
He thanked the Department of State Service (DSS) for being instrumental for the protection of vulnerable children in the state.
The president said that the centre is partnering with different government’s security agencies.
He stressed the need to always give helping hands to the vulnerable children to give them a brighter future.
He called on the society, public spirited individual, locals and foreign communities to give support that would help the centre to expand its facility in the area.
Itauma explained that the top most priority of vulnerable children is education, adding that the prospect of the children is education.
He said that challenges faced by the vulnerable children include, abuse, torture and the children which the centre couldn’t rescued died.
He thanked the state government for support, saying that such has been very helpful and their advice led to the establishment of CRARN in 2003.
