 City of Refuge Africa (CORA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing economic stability to underprivileged people in various African countries by teaching them the skills they need to sustain themselves. We provide a safe space (see "Definition of Terms"), nourishment and education for orphans, street kids and children from lower income homes; skills development training and jobs to older teenagers, young single mothers and people with disability issues from the lower echelons of society. We identify "crises regions" and design region specific programs that aim to alleviate the current issues.
The Niger Delta And Its Challenges
Our current project is based in the Niger Delta in the southern part of Nigeria. Although the Niger Delta is directly responsible for 80% of Nigeria's revenue (CIA fact sheet), the typical community has no access to a proper education, clean water, and many modern ammenities that make for security and a safe existence. The lands and waters that surround the communities were once fertile and bursting with fish but over 40 years of oil spills, gas flaring has drastically reduced the fruitfulness of land and sea. The current instability in the region is as a result of years. The unemployment rate is very high as a large number of indigenes do no qualify for the well paying jobs, the oil corporations offer. The lack of occupation is one the main reasons for the recent instability in the region.
CORA believes that providing jobs (not necessarily white collar jobs, food,and other neccesities for the people, creates a safety net and a viable alternative to the violent methods that are currently relied on. CORA relies on an asset based approach and re-introduce the basics such as fishing and farming that are being ignored for oil jobs. We study communities, and create a database of facilities they have, which includes land, water and other facilities with the exclusion of oil and natural gas. We determine in conjunction with community members what is most needed by the community and decide what projects would work best for that community. For example, if the water body in one fishing community has been completely destroyed by oil spills, we introduce fish farming into that community. If the fishes have only migrated to cleaner waters in a different community, we provide better fishing boats so that locals can reach higher waters. At the time, the project is designed, measures of success are also set. CORA has four evaluations in a year as it has four monthly quarters. Projects are designed to achieve various stages of completion in four months, the evaluation would enable CORA to readjust the projects if we have aimed too high or reached to low.
In the cities, CORA provides orphanages and training schools for young, single mothers and people with disabilities. Cities see a large influx of people from the rural areas. Little children selling goods on the high ways are a common sight. CORA representatives encourage these children to enrol in the free schools it provides and caters for their living expenses. Information is disseminated by CORA representatives in the pidgin english and the local languages.
This is not an exhaustive compilation of what we do. We invite you to familiarize yourself more with CORA by reading the following web pages. We know that you will see that CORA has honourable objectives, a progressive vision, and a strong organizational structure. We are always looking for input and participation, and we encourage you to visit our contact page to share your thoughts and ideas.
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