“Repairing broken lives and communities, restoring hope” Isa 58v12
Harrow Grace Foundation exists as a Christian women and children advocacy agency that aims, in collaboration with like-minded groups and individuals, to release women and children from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christians. It is committed to promoting the well-being of vulnerable women and children in Nigeria, Africa, and around the world by providing food, shelter, medical help, education, life training skills, mentoring, health programs as well as Christian training. We are not only a social ministry but also a ministry committed to evangelism and discipleship.
Harrow Grace Foundation was founded by Pastor (Mrs) Efe Oluwatosin following a missionary visit to Gbaupe, a settlement community in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory in 2015. With an estimated population of 6,000, one hundred years after the first group of hunters settled in Gbaupe, the community still lacks the necessities of life such as clean water, electricity, and access to modern educational and health facilities. It is almost impossible to comprehend that these people dwell so close to the seat of power of Africa's largest economy and are yet so far removed from the trappings of wealth that surround them.
The only road linking Gbaupe to the Federal Capital City of Abuja has been eaten up by erosion. The only school in the community is a Local Education Authority (LEA) primary school and a Junior Secondary School which also serves as a terminal point for young people who cannot afford to go to school outside the community. These are some of the frightening facts about the condition of the people in this ancient and neglected community.
The village head, Danjuma Gajere, has expressed displeasure over the situation in the village, which has made life difficult for the people. “We are neglected in terms of provision of social amenities. Imagine we go to the city to bring water to the village. We pay N200 for the transportation and buy the water for N20 a keg and those that cannot afford it go to the river. Because we can't manage our wells, we don't bother to sink them. It's frustrating,” he said.
He said several appeals to the area council to come to their aid had yielded no result.
“The area council authority is aware of the situation here and despite the promises to expedite action nothing tangible has been done as far, as the provision of social amenities is concerned. We have no electricity, the road leading to Kuje is the only road that was graded by the present administration, but due to the rains, it is now in a state of disrepair. How do we reach out to other parts of FCT?” Gajere said.
Happily, the road linking the village to the nearest town is currently undergoing renovation and poles have been erected to bring electricity to the settlement but it remains to be seen when these projects will be completed so that the residents of Gbaupe can start to enjoy some similitude of modern life.
Speaking further, Gajere said the people of the community seemed to be voiceless as they had none of their indigenes in the position of authority at any level of government.
“We don't have illustrious sons in political positions or even in government parastatals that can speak for us and protect our interest and I believe this is one of our problems. Most of us did not have the opportunity to acquire formal education but we later realised the importance of education and we now have university graduates among us, even though most of them have no jobs.
“They only remember us during elections when they make us promises but forget us soon after the elections. When compared with neighboring villages like Goabi, Dafara, Piye and other communities, which have some notable social amenities, Gbaupe is backward.”
Residents of Gbaupe also live in fear of environmental hazards because of the quarry activities that go on there. As it is expected, these activities cause vibration and pollution in the environment. A cross-section of the residents say they live in fear because adequate environmental assessments were not carried out before the construction companies were licensed to carry out their activities. As a result of this, many of them suffer from cough. Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no medical facility in the village to attend to them.
The companies operating quarries in the village have failed the people in the area of corporate social responsibility, as their presence in the village has not had any positive impact on them.
Being the source of inspiration for this ministry, it is only fitting that the women and children of Gbaupe should be the first beneficiaries of the Harrow Grace Foundation.
Harrow Grace Foundation is Christ-centered. We commit to honoring Jesus Christ in all that we do. The Great Commission is at the heart of our mission and discipleship is at the core of our program. Everyone who participates in our program is allowed to learn about Jesus Christ and discover how to develop a lifelong relationship with God. We work in partnership with local churches to assist the vulnerable women and children in their communities. We are committed to making a difference in the individual's life. We strongly believe in ministering to the individual because it has been proven that changed individuals are the most effective champions of change in their communities and nations.
Harrow Grace Foundation is committed to integrity. We commit to honoring the dignity of every individual, accurately presenting the gospel, practicing the highest standard in the use of funds and adhering to sound principles in ministry.
We will provide information describing our specific projects and updates on how we are making a difference in the lives of women and children. You will also better understand the unique challenges facing families served by this program.
Harrow Grace Foundation is committed to financial efficiency, integrity, and good stewardship of resources. The majority of total expenditures will go directly to help out target recipients while the rest will be for administrative costs.
Accountability is a commitment and a value that drives our ministry. We will regularly conduct audits to make sure that funds are properly received, tracked, and managed. Beyond making sure that funds are reaching a local project, we will carefully monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and the long-term effect by tracking the progress of the individual women and children. We want to be sure that real development is taking place in the life of every assisted individual. We are committed to earning and keeping the trust of those who give to this ministry.
God bless you.
Pastor (Mrs) Efe Oluwatosin