The Child’s Rights Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) has reconciled and reintegrated over 8,000 vulnerable children into the society since inception in 2003 in Akwa Ibom.
The President/Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Mr Sam Itauma made the disclosure while briefing newsmen to mark her 20th Anniversary Celebration in Eket on Sunday.
He explained that the centre had rehabilitated, reconciled, integrated and reunited a lots of vulnerable children back to the society in the state.
Itauma lamented the situation where the vulnerable children were labeled witches, abandoned and stigmatised in the state
“Our efforts have rehabilitated and supported more than 8,000 vulnerable children who have either access support from us or rescued from our CRARN facility,” Itauma said.
He noted that about 15 vulnerable children had graduated, 20 children graduated from College of Education and 25 vulnerable children were in the tertiary institution in the state.
Itauma noted that the centre had been able to put 6 structures in the centre, adding that the centre have a school called CRARN Academy in the state.
He highlighted that the centre had been looking for support from public spirited individual, companies, Non governmental Organisation to better the lots of the vulnerable to the society.
He thanked the DSS for being instrumental for the protection of the vulnerable children in the state stressing that the centre has been partnering with different government security agencies.
He stressed the need to always give a helping hand to the vulnerable children and raise awareness to what is happening to the vulnerable children in the society.
He called on public spirited individual, local 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 was education, adding that the prospect of CRARN is educating the children
He said that challenges faced by the vulnerable children were suffering abuses, torture over allegations of witchcraft and the children which the centre couldn’t rescued died before help could come.
He thanked the state government, saying that the Akwa Ibom government had been very helpful and their advise led to the establishment of CRARN in 2003.
Itauma explained that the 20th Anniversary Celebration would draw the the Local, state and Federal Governments attention that there is need to extend helping hands to the vulnerable children.