Here’s an interview with Osaze Eli, the founder of Osaze We Care Foundation. Indeed, not all supermen wear capes.
In the outskirts of Apo-Dutse, around Queen Amina Court, Abuja, F.C.T, Nigeria, you would find yourself walking and then, taking a bike down a bumpy road till you arrive at Osaze We Care Foundation. Following the last visit of Care Ville Foundation (CVF) to the Orphanage on 1st October 2021 to commemorate the 61st Independence celebration of Nigeria, the Foundation decided to have a chitchat with the founder of the orphanage, who warmly welcomed the CVF team.
Tell us about yourself and how you started the orphanage?
I am Osaze Eli, an indigene of Edo State, Nigeria, a pastor, and the founder of Osaze We Care Foundation. I have been called to have an orphanage. Initially, I did not have the zeal to start the orphanage, I tried to run away from this calling, and I lost a lot in the process of delaying, but I eventually surrendered. If one does not have the calling to have an orphanage, there’s the tendency to want to give up.
The Orphanage has been existing for five (5) years now. We started in Edo State but after some time, we moved down to Abuja.
Tell us about the orphanage
Osaze We Care Foundation was established on 22nd May 2017 and we will be celebrating our five (5) years anniversary in a few weeks. Our mission is to give hope to the hopeless, and light to those in darkness. We currently have a total of 26 children, 14 girls and 12 boys from across 8 states in Nigeria (Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Anambra, Imo, etc, including indigenes of the F.C.T). Currently, we are expecting five new children and some people have also reached out to us to have a branch of the orphanage in Taraba State.
How do you get Children to the Orphanage?
Over time, the burden of orphans has increased in the country, owing to different reasons. There are different ways through which we get children to the orphanage, but on most occasions, individuals bring their children to us whenever they are not able to take care of them.
There was an instance when a woman came with her children (two kids) because she could not cater for them. Another situation involved a beautiful, crippled woman. Due to her disability, she could not cater for herself and the children. But when she got to know about the orphanage, she decided to bring them to the orphanage. In our own capacity, we bought her a wheelchair and got her a kiosk to sell a few daily needs.
You seem to know all the children very well, how were you able to achieve this, despite the challenge of poor eyesight?
Yes, I know all the children well because I spend time with them. Because the children are from different parts of the country, I call them by their native names. This has helped in identifying the children properly.
Are there any criteria on how you get children into the orphanage?
When it comes to how we get children into the Orphanage, we follow the right procedure as stated in El-Rufai’s constitution, and we do not accommodate children that we do not know or cannot be traceable to any other individual. Also, we do not give out children for adoption. There are instances where some people have promised the Orphanage things such as money or houses, just to adopt children from us but we always direct them to the appropriate government bodies or institutions.
How did you get the space/apartment?
This space was initially owned by a woman, popularly known as Hajiya Mai Doya. Although the place was not in a good condition, it was refurbished after saving up for about a year. After refurbishing, I gave her the amount I could afford as rent and she trusted me to give out the apartment to us. Since then, we do not pay the regular rent, I only give her any amount I have. For instance, if I have N100,000 today, all I do is put a call through, give it to her and she will gladly collect it.
Although I initially saw the space as big, the orphanage has grown and expanded but we pray, and we look forward to more expansion and development of the orphanage.
Currently, we have rented another space in Jafi, located somewhere after the popular Apo auto mechanic. The girls are there with my wife while I am here with the boys. This new location is bigger, the children can run up and down within the compound, have more fun and motors can drive-in, unlike the situation here.
What are the pressing needs of the orphanage, as we speak?
There are many things that we need in the orphanage. There is nothing that is too small. We need sincere workers who will help manage and take care of the children very well. We also need about four (4) iron bunk beds, mosquito-treated nets, charcoal, cooking stoves, mopping sticks, slippers, packers, etc. Now that school will resume on 9th May, we need lots of notebooks, and other writing materials, because we constantly give writing materials to the children on a weekly basis.
What are the skills, and talents that the children possess?
My children are good at sports. Some time ago, they went to an inter-house sports competition where they won 11-gold medals. I was able to discover their skills by engaging them with other kids in school. If they are only in a home and then you bring in a teacher, you won’t know all the skills they possess. This approach has helped to reduce the inferiority complex.
What would be your greatest joy?
My greatest joy would be to see the children grow old and reciprocate the love they have received. Some of the kids have told me they want to have orphanages when they grow up. I will be happy to witness this happen.
How often do you get support?
There are different means through which we get support at the orphanage.
One way is transportation for the children’s school. We partnered with a woman on transportation, who collects N3000 daily to transport the children to and from school. Some other individuals have also supported in this regard.
Concerning the school fees for the children, the management of the school has been benevolent enough to give us a discount of N30,0000 per child. Regular students pay N65,000 but we pay N35,000 per child.
Somebody once brought charcoal for us, and it was very helpful in cooking.
A 52-year-old banker who was not married has supported us with a deep freezer. We were so happy with the support. Not long after, we found out that the banker got married and now has two children (twins).
Proud Moments
We have been favored to receive support from far and near and I do not know why.
Education is very important for kids, as such, all my children attend Trenure International school, a private school in Lokogoma. Although there are other affordable schools within our environs, I wouldn’t want the children to go there, because I want the best for them.
Despite that we do not have all we need, the children are all in good condition, hale and hearty, and this has attracted more helpers for the Orphanage and driven away from people who bring gifts that were not in good condition. People commend our efforts, and this has pushed us to do better.
What has been the most interesting part of running the Orphanage?
I am always glad when others compliment the children. Although we do not have all we want, we maximize them and ensure that the kids are comfortable.
Some time ago, some single Calabari ladies complimented me on the children’s appearance, stating that the girls plait their hair well and the boys are well dressed.
When people compliment my children, it encourages me to do more.
What has been your greatest challenge in running the orphanage?
Stigmatization has been a big challenge. There are a lot of stigmas that arise with housing orphans. Some people would treat orphans as though they are nobodies. We have had instances where people bring spoiled foods, and clothes that are not in good condition or are low quality for the children. In other instances, a parent was not happy to know that her children were in the same class/were transported together with orphans.
Also, we have faced the challenge of people promising us without fulfilling us. This can sometimes be discouraging, but my children will always look radiant.
Make your donations today
If you would like to support the orphanage, kindly make your donations to the account details below or reach out to us @care_ville on IG.
Domiciliary Account
Account Number:1007348368
Bank: Keystone Bank
Account Name: Osaze We care Foundation
Naira Account
Account Number:1000266641
Bank: Keystone Bank.
Account Name: Osaze We care Foundation
Copyright 2022:
Isioma@isiomaononye, Marvellous@hebbie
Care Ville Foundation @care_ville, carevillefoundation.org, +234 905 4139 283, +234 813 9757 021.
A little love, a little magic
Here’s an interview with Osaze Eli, the founder of Osaze We Care Foundation. Indeed, not all supermen wear capes.
In the outskirts of Apo-Dutse, around Queen Amina Court, Abuja, F.C.T, Nigeria, you would find yourself walking and then, taking a bike down a bumpy road till you arrive at Osaze We Care Foundation. Following the last visit of Care Ville Foundation (CVF) to the Orphanage on 1st October 2021 to commemorate the 61st Independence celebration of Nigeria, the Foundation decided to have a chitchat with the founder of the orphanage, who warmly welcomed the CVF team.
Tell us about yourself and how you started the orphanage?
I am Osaze Eli, an indigene of Edo State, Nigeria, a pastor, and the founder of Osaze We Care Foundation. I have been called to have an orphanage. Initially, I did not have the zeal to start the orphanage, I tried to run away from this calling, and I lost a lot in the process of delaying, but I eventually surrendered. If one does not have the calling to have an orphanage, there’s the tendency to want to give up.
The Orphanage has been existing for five (5) years now. We started in Edo State but after some time, we moved down to Abuja.
Tell us about the orphanage
Osaze We Care Foundation was established on 22nd May 2017 and we will be celebrating our five (5) years anniversary in a few weeks. Our mission is to give hope to the hopeless, and light to those in darkness. We currently have a total of 26 children, 14 girls and 12 boys from across 8 states in Nigeria (Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Anambra, Imo, etc, including indigenes of the F.C.T). Currently, we are expecting five new children and some people have also reached out to us to have a branch of the orphanage in Taraba State.
How do you get Children to the Orphanage?
Over time, the burden of orphans has increased in the country, owing to different reasons. There are different ways through which we get children to the orphanage, but on most occasions, individuals bring their children to us whenever they are not able to take care of them.
There was an instance when a woman came with her children (two kids) because she could not cater for them. Another situation involved a beautiful, crippled woman. Due to her disability, she could not cater for herself and the children. But when she got to know about the orphanage, she decided to bring them to the orphanage. In our own capacity, we bought her a wheelchair and got her a kiosk to sell a few daily needs.
You seem to know all the children very well, how were you able to achieve this, despite the challenge of poor eyesight?
Yes, I know all the children well because I spend time with them. Because the children are from different parts of the country, I call them by their native names. This has helped in identifying the children properly.
Are there any criteria on how you get children into the orphanage?
When it comes to how we get children into the Orphanage, we follow the right procedure as stated in El-Rufai’s constitution, and we do not accommodate children that we do not know or cannot be traceable to any other individual. Also, we do not give out children for adoption. There are instances where some people have promised the Orphanage things such as money or houses, just to adopt children from us but we always direct them to the appropriate government bodies or institutions.
How did you get the space/apartment?
This space was initially owned by a woman, popularly known as Hajiya Mai Doya. Although the place was not in a good condition, it was refurbished after saving up for about a year. After refurbishing, I gave her the amount I could afford as rent and she trusted me to give out the apartment to us. Since then, we do not pay the regular rent, I only give her any amount I have. For instance, if I have N100,000 today, all I do is put a call through, give it to her and she will gladly collect it.
Although I initially saw the space as big, the orphanage has grown and expanded but we pray, and we look forward to more expansion and development of the orphanage.
Currently, we have rented another space in Jafi, located somewhere after the popular Apo auto mechanic. The girls are there with my wife while I am here with the boys. This new location is bigger, the children can run up and down within the compound, have more fun and motors can drive-in, unlike the situation here.
What are the pressing needs of the orphanage, as we speak?
There are many things that we need in the orphanage. There is nothing that is too small. We need sincere workers who will help manage and take care of the children very well. We also need about four (4) iron bunk beds, mosquito-treated nets, charcoal, cooking stoves, mopping sticks, slippers, packers, etc. Now that school will resume on 9th May, we need lots of notebooks, and other writing materials, because we constantly give writing materials to the children on a weekly basis.
What are the skills, and talents that the children possess?
My children are good at sports. Some time ago, they went to an inter-house sports competition where they won 11-gold medals. I was able to discover their skills by engaging them with other kids in school. If they are only in a home and then you bring in a teacher, you won’t know all the skills they possess. This approach has helped to reduce the inferiority complex.
What would be your greatest joy?
My greatest joy would be to see the children grow old and reciprocate the love they have received. Some of the kids have told me they want to have orphanages when they grow up. I will be happy to witness this happen.
How often do you get support?
There are different means through which we get support at the orphanage.
One way is transportation for the children’s school. We partnered with a woman on transportation, who collects N3000 daily to transport the children to and from school. Some other individuals have also supported in this regard.
Concerning the school fees for the children, the management of the school has been benevolent enough to give us a discount of N30,0000 per child. Regular students pay N65,000 but we pay N35,000 per child.
Somebody once brought charcoal for us, and it was very helpful in cooking.
A 52-year-old banker who was not married has supported us with a deep freezer. We were so happy with the support. Not long after, we found out that the banker got married and now has two children (twins).
Proud Moments
We have been favored to receive support from far and near and I do not know why.
Education is very important for kids, as such, all my children attend Trenure International school, a private school in Lokogoma. Although there are other affordable schools within our environs, I wouldn’t want the children to go there, because I want the best for them.
Despite that we do not have all we need, the children are all in good condition, hale and hearty, and this has attracted more helpers for the Orphanage and driven away from people who bring gifts that were not in good condition. People commend our efforts, and this has pushed us to do better.
What has been the most interesting part of running the Orphanage?
I am always glad when others compliment the children. Although we do not have all we want, we maximize them and ensure that the kids are comfortable.
Some time ago, some single Calabari ladies complimented me on the children’s appearance, stating that the girls plait their hair well and the boys are well dressed.
When people compliment my children, it encourages me to do more.
What has been your greatest challenge in running the orphanage?
Stigmatization has been a big challenge. There are a lot of stigmas that arise with housing orphans. Some people would treat orphans as though they are nobodies. We have had instances where people bring spoiled foods, and clothes that are not in good condition or are low quality for the children. In other instances, a parent was not happy to know that her children were in the same class/were transported together with orphans.
Also, we have faced the challenge of people promising us without fulfilling us. This can sometimes be discouraging, but my children will always look radiant.
Make your donations today
If you would like to support the orphanage, kindly make your donations to the account details below or reach out to us @care_ville on IG.
Domiciliary Account
Account Number:1007348368
Bank: Keystone Bank
Account Name: Osaze We care Foundation
Naira Account
Account Number:1000266641
Bank: Keystone Bank.
Account Name: Osaze We care Foundation
Copyright 2022:
Isioma@isiomaononye, Marvellous@hebbie
Care Ville Foundation @care_ville, carevillefoundation.org, +234 905 4139 283, +234 813 9757 021.
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