The For the Children’s Sake Foundation
Vernon Todd
Vernon Todd

Providing a safe haven for vulnerable Linden children and youths

THE For the Children’s Sake Foundation (FCSF) is a Linden-based, non-governmental, non-profit organisation which was founded by Mr. Vernon Todd in June 2002. The organisation which is located at One Mile, Wismar, focuses on youth development and empowerment in various areas. Todd, who was born and educated in Linden, said he recognised that youths in the community encounter various challenges which put them at risk for negative health, educational, and social outcomes.

He noted that it was observed at the time that the number of students completing their primary education was decreasing, while suicide, violence, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases rates were increasing in Linden. Based on his own experiences and from his community engagement work, Todd said he felt that more emphasis should be placed on education and health or his community would not have survived another generation.

As such, he created the FTCSF, in an effort to provide youths with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to improve their quality of life and to empower them to make better decisions which would ultimately lead to positive growth and development. It is on these grounds that the vision statement of the FTCSF was created. Since 2002, in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Region 10, the organisation has been dealing with both health and social issues affecting target group adolescents.

Its priorities include sexual and reproductive health, adolescent pregnancy prevention, prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), substance and tobacco abuse prevention, environmental access to clean water, sanitation, safety, education, Mental health services and prevention of Non-communicable diseases. It currently has several ongoing programmes, including the Child Development Programme, Literacy and Numeracy Programme, a Feeding Programme, Life skills training, Nutritional and a Girl Power Initiative. Todd explained that the organisational functions of the FTCSF are both social and humanitarian, with focus on both personal and community development. “We function as an educational outlet -we have our library where persons can access information, an internet hub where youths can get assignments completed and do research. Our peer educators core principle is to ensure that health and social information is disseminated through outreaches, satellite tables, health forums, workshops and facilitated sessions,” he explained.

several of FTCSF peer educators and youths involved in some of its community and humanitarian initiatives

The organisation is sort of a home away from home for its members, where the need for support, socialisation, interaction and other needs for development are provided. It aims at initiating programmes that are aimed at helping youth, provides HIV testing, youth-friendly services which involve weekly educational sessions on an array of topics to help empower youths and guidesthem through puberty and development, which may contribute to them becoming well-rounded individuals. “A number of initiatives have been introduced to the community during the course of our 16 years of existence. Some of these include our saving adolescents programme, peer education, health clubs, youth seeking answers through a 24-hour programme that allows persons to anonymously call for assistance with their problems, answers to their questions and counselling; sponsor a child programme, a programme aimed at assisting vulnerable groups such as low-income families with food hampers, hygienic packages, and a skill so they can assist themselves in providing for their families. It also includes feeling programmes; Girl Power programme- a newly launched programme targeting our girls with the aim to empower, inspire and encourage,” Todd indicated. Additionally, the organisation also initiates back-to-school and toy drives. These are annual programmes designed to ensure that low-income families are adequately prepared for school and that children wake up to a toy on Christmas Day.

There are also monthly satellite tables, where strategic areas in and around the region are chosen and youths are educated on health and social issues. More so, the organisation conducts literacy and numeracy programmes which include a homework club and training in this area for school drop-outs and slow learners. FTCSF is also very devoted to community development and has been involved in a number of community development programmes that include the painting of pedestrian crossings on numerous occasions and clean-up campaigns. “Young people are confronted with many challenges. So many dreams have been shattered by bad choices. But their challenges often also come from the social environment they live in”, Todd related. “The issues of substance abuse, early pregnancies, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, poor knowledge about their bodies and how their behaviour place them at risk. The Peer Education programme is our attempt to change this reality, to provide them with the information and the choices to craft lifestyles that are positive and that put them on a path to long, healthy and productive lives.
We encourage young people to participate in these programmes. We also encourage parents, teachers and other stakeholders to participate”, Todd noted. He added that the organisation recognises that in our fast-paced society, young people are faced with immense challenges which put them at crossroads in the decision-making process. “Most times, these decisions are made from peer pressure or because they just don’t know better. Generally, it is often thought that adolescents are a healthy group. Nevertheless, many adolescents do die prematurely due to accidents, suicide, violence, pregnancy-related complications and other illnesses that are either preventable or treatable. Many more suffer chronic illnesses and disability. In addition, many serious diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescents. For example, tobacco use and poor eating and exercise habits lead to illnesses or premature death later in life. This programme is intended to foster greater development among our young people in our country. I commend the young people who so enthusiastically are involved in these activities”, Todd said.

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