Stepping Stones Nigeria
 | |
| Type | NGO |
|---|---|
| Registration No. | 1112476 |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder(s) | Gary & Naomi Foxcroft |
| Headquarters |
|
| Area served | Nigeria |
| Employees | 7 |
| Website | steppingstonesnigeria.org |
Stepping Stones Nigeria (SSN) is a UK registered charity[1] that works with and through Nigerian partners to protect and uphold child rights in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It was founded by Gary Foxcroft in 2005. Stepping Stones Nigeria is based in Lancaster, England. The organisation has 4 full-time and 3 part-time staff[2] and is overseen by a Board of Trustees. Stepping Stones Nigeria’s patrons are Sir Tim Lankester, Dr Owens Wiwa and Comfort Momoh MBE.
History
According to its website,[3] in 2003 Gary Foxcroft visited Nigeria to undertake research into community perceptions of the oil industry for his Masters degree at Lancaster University. After witnessing the plight of abandoned children living rough on the streets and the poor state of the region’s education system, Foxcroft vowed to return and build a school for disadvantaged children. He also met an inspirational local head teacher, Grace Udua, who generously offered to donate her family land as the site for the school.
Upon return to the UK, Foxcroft and his wife Naomi set about raising the funds[4] needed to help establish a model school. Stepping Stones Nigeria was registered as a charity with the UK Charity Commission in December 2005. Gary and Naomi then returned to Nigeria during 2006 to build the Stepping Stones Model School with support from the local community.
Whilst living in Nigeria and working on the school, Gary and Naomi became aware of a number of children living on the streets who had been abandoned and abused due to the belief that they were ‘witches’. They then began to work with local Nigerian NGOs to help to support these children and to campaign for their rights.
Documentaries
Saving Africa's Witch Children
The work of Stepping Stones Nigeria was featured in an award-winning[5] Channel 4 Dispatches documentary called ‘Saving Africa’s Witch Children’. This programme first aired 12 November 2008 and told the story of young children who had been labeled Witches and Wizards by their family and community and left abandoned, tortured, imprisoned or killed in the delta state of Akwa Ibom in Nigeria. The programme followed Gary Foxcroft and Sam Itauma, a Nigerian who started a school and centre for the abandoned children called CRARN (Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network). The programme suggests that the problem is caused by a combination of African traditional beliefs and extreme Christian Pentecostal groups. In particular the programme singles out Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries for producing a film called "End of the Wicked" which the charity workers blame for the increase in children being abandoned by their families.
Return to Africa's Witch Children
A second documentary in 2009 called ‘Return to Africa’s Witch Children’ revisits Akwa Ibom State to record the changes brought about by Stepping Stones Nigeria and CRARN's work.
Campaigns and projects
Prevent Abuse of Children Today (PACT) Campaign
PACT is a global campaign that aims to give a voice to the voiceless and bring about long-term change for the Nigerian child, particularly those at risk of child rights violations including witchcraft-related abuse and trafficking. Through its coalition of supporters PACT pressures key leaders and decision makers in Nigeria to take action. PACT also use a wide variety of other tools, such as media campaigns, demonstrations and conferences to enlighten and inform people and to fight for the rights of innocent children.[6]
'The Fake Prophet' - Nollywood Film
Working in partnership with Nollywood Director Teco Benson, Stepping Stones Nigeria produced this "ground breaking film that powerfully encapsulates many major child rights issues that the Nigerian child faces today, including child witchcraft accusations, child trafficking and child abandonment".[7] In July 2011 the The Fake Prophet premièred in Nigeria.[8]
Eno's Story
Stepping Stones Nigeria together with Nigerian publisher Cassava Republic published a children's story book called Eno's Story. Written by Ayodele Olofintuade, Eno's Story is a moving and beautifully illustrated[9] story about Eno a young girl branded a witch by an uncle, who uses courage and imagination to overcome a challenging situation.
See also
- Akwa Ibom State
- False prophet
- Leo Igwe
- Niger Delta
- Nollywood
- Witchcraft and children
Footnotes
- ↑ "Charity overview". Charity-commission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
- ↑ "About Us". Stepping Stones Nigeria. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ↑ "History". Stepping Stones Nigeria. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ↑ "Fires in the Darkness". Features - Virtual Lancaster. Virtual Lancaster. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ↑ "International Emmy for Dispatches' Film". Dispatches. Channel 4. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ↑ "About Us". Prevent Abuse of Children Today. PACT. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ↑ "The Fake Prophet Screening". The Dukes Cinema Lancaster.
- ↑ Onwualu, Chinelo. "‘Child-witches’ controversy gets the big screen treatment". NEXT. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ↑ "Eno's Story". Product description. Amazon UK. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
References
- Channel 4 Dispatches Program (Saving Africa's Witch Children)
- Oppenheimer, Mark (21 May 2010), "On a Visit to the U.S., a Nigerian Witch-Hunter Explains Herself", New York Times.