A NEW YEAR HOPE FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

Tabitha Home is a residential care home for orphans and vulnerable children, committed to inspiring hope and building a secure future for every child under its care. Through its focus on Child Development, Social Integration, and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, the Home provides holistic support through education, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, psychosocial care, and life skills development.

August was a month of learning, connection, celebration, community service, and self-discovery. While the children were on their long holiday, several activities were organized to support their academic development, psychosocial well-being, creativity, spirituality, and practical skills.

THEME OF THE MONTH

Loyalty – Ruth 2:11–12

Throughout the month, the children learned about the value of loyalty and the importance of remaining committed to people, values, and responsibilities. Using the story of Ruth as an example, they were encouraged to understand that loyalty is demonstrated through love, commitment, faithfulness, and genuine care for others, especially during challenging times.

The children were also encouraged to recognize that loyalty builds trust and strengthens relationships, both within the Home and in the wider community.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUGUST 2026

• Tabitha Home celebrated its 12th anniversary on 14 August, marking twelve years of inspiring hope and supporting vulnerable children and families in the community.

• All residents participated in an eight-day camp at the Scripture Union Headquarters, themed Discovery, with activities including drama, dance, spoken word, inter-house sports, games, spelling bee, panel sessions, prayer walks, and other group activities.

• Children who required additional academic support participated in Home lessons in Mathematics and English, while all five children who sat for the Rochas Foundation entrance examination were considered for admission into JSS1.

• The Tabitha ChangeMakers carried out its second project of the year, Feed the Needy, reaching 75 children and teenagers identified as being in need.

• Members of the Tabitha Home Cooperative Women marked their anniversary with the admission of a new member, recognition of outstanding members, and a retraining session involving women from other cooperative groups.

• Tabitha Home supported new and nursing mothers through the Welfare and Social Services Department of St. Peter's Hospital, Aremo, with donations of baby clothes, diapers, and baby food.

• Through Art for Humanity, children and teenagers received practical training in engineering craft and learned how to design and build toy cars.

OVERVIEW

Education

August was primarily a holiday period as the children spent the four weeks away from their regular school routines. However, learning continued for children who required additional academic support. Those experiencing challenges particularly in Mathematics and English were engaged in Home lessons to help strengthen their understanding and prepare them for the coming academic session.

In addition, all five children who sat for the Rochas Foundation entrance examination were considered for admission into JSS1. This provided an encouraging opportunity for the children to explore new educational pathways as they prepared for the next stage of their academic journey.

Camp Experience

One of the major highlights of the month was the eight-day camp organized for all residents of Tabitha Home at the Scripture Union Headquarters. With the theme "Discovery," the camp provided the children with an opportunity to step outside their usual environment, experience a new setting, build relationships, and discover different aspects of themselves and their abilities.

The children were divided into groups and participated in a wide range of activities, including spoken word presentations, drama, dance, inter-house sports, games, spelling bee, panel sessions, prayer walks, and other interactive activities.

Beyond recreation, the camp provided a valuable psychosocial experience. The change of environment allowed the children to relax, reconnect with one another, express themselves creatively, and build confidence through teamwork and participation. It was a refreshing experience that supported their emotional well-being while giving them opportunities to discover new interests and strengths.

Tabitha Home 12th Anniversary

On 14 August 2026, Tabitha Home celebrated its 12th anniversary, marking twelve years of inspiring hope and supporting vulnerable children, families, and individuals within the community.

The anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the journey of the Home, celebrate its impact, and appreciate the many individuals and organizations whose support has contributed to the work over the years. It was also a reminder of the continued responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing environment where vulnerable children can grow, develop, and look forward to a brighter future.

Tabitha ChangeMakers – Feed the Needy

On 12 August, the Tabitha ChangeMakers (TCM) organized and executed its second project of the year, themed "Feed the Needy." The project reached 75 children and teenagers identified as being in need within the community.

The initiative was driven by love and the desire of the young people to give back to the community that has supported and nurtured them. Through the project, the ChangeMakers demonstrated that young people can play an active role in identifying community needs and responding to them with compassion and responsibility.

Cooperative Women Anniversary

The Tabitha Home Cooperative Women celebrated their anniversary on 18 August. The celebration brought together members to reflect on their progress, strengthen their commitment to the cooperative, and recognize contributions made by members over the past year.

A new member was welcomed into the group, while some women who had demonstrated active participation during the year were recognized and rewarded for their commitment. The women also invited members of other cooperative groups to participate in a retraining session, creating an opportunity for knowledge sharing and strengthening collaboration among women-led cooperative groups.

Medical Outreach

As part of Tabitha Home's commitment to supporting vulnerable families beyond the Home, baby clothes, diapers, and baby food were donated to the Welfare and Social Services Department of St. Peter's Hospital, Aremo.

The items were intended to support new and nursing mothers who may be experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to adequately meet the needs of their babies. The outreach provided practical support to families during a particularly important stage of their lives.

Art for Humanity

Through Art for Humanity, led by Ademide Adeolu Akande, Tabitha Home's children and teenagers participated in a three-day practical training focused on engineering craft.

The children learned how to design and build toy cars using their creativity and imagination. The training encouraged them to understand that their hands are capable of creating meaningful things when combined with imagination, patience, and determination.

At the end of the three-day training, the three groups made short presentations explaining what they had created, how they developed their projects, what they learned during the process, and what they would improve if given another opportunity. The activity encouraged creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and confidence in presenting ideas.

CONCLUSION

August 2026 was a month filled with opportunities for learning, discovery, connection, creativity, and service. From the eight-day camp experience and continued academic support to the Tabitha Home anniversary, community outreach, skills development, and cooperative women's activities, the month provided the children and wider community with meaningful opportunities to grow and contribute.

The camp, in particular, offered the children a refreshing change of environment and created space for self-expression, relationship building, teamwork, and psychosocial rejuvenation. The different activities throughout the month also reinforced the importance of developing children who are not only academically prepared but also confident, creative, compassionate, and equipped with practical life skills.

As Tabitha Home celebrates twelve years of inspiring hope, we remain committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where every child can discover their potential and build a meaningful future. We sincerely appreciate our donors, partners, volunteers, staff, and supporters whose continued commitment makes this work possible and enables us to extend hope and support to vulnerable children and families in our community.

Links:

• August Recap and Happy New Month from Tabitha Home
• Recap of Art for Humanity Skill Acquisition Training

INTRODUCTION

Tabitha Home is a residential care home for orphans and vulnerable children, committed to inspiring hope and building a secure future for every child under its care. Through its focus on Child Development, Social Integration, and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, the Home provides holistic support through education, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, psychosocial care, and life skills development.

THEME OF THE MONTH

Faith (Matthew 14:28–31)

Throughout the month, the children learned that faith requires complete trust in God even in the face of uncertainty. Using Peter's experience of walking on water, they were encouraged to keep their focus on Christ, remain courageous in difficult situations, and understand that unwavering faith enables them to overcome fear and life's challenges.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR JULY 2026

• The 2025/2026 academic session concluded successfully with all children promoted to their next classes.
• Five children completed primary education and will be proceeding to secondary school, while three beneficiaries completed secondary school and are seeking admission into various universities.
• One child received six academic awards for outstanding performance across three school subjects.
• Tabitha Home organized a clothes drive for vulnerable women in partnership with members of its cooperative women group.
• One new beneficiary was admitted into the Home to continue his education and receive holistic care.
• Ten of our teenagers and young adults participated in the World Youth Skills Day programme organized by the Derayo Foundation, where two beneficiaries received six-month scholarships in Digital Marketing and Nail Craft.

OVERVIEW

Education

The month of July marked the conclusion of the 2025/2026 academic session as the children prepared for and sat their third-term promotion examinations. To ensure excellent academic performance, intensive reading sessions were organized, with caregivers and older students providing additional academic support and mentoring.

The end of the school term was celebrated with valedictory and graduation ceremonies across the various schools attended by the children. It was a season of remarkable achievements as five children successfully completed primary education and will be proceeding to secondary school, while three beneficiaries seek admission into various universities.

In addition, all the children were successfully promoted to their next classes. A particularly outstanding achievement was recorded by one child who received six academic awards for exceptional performance across three different subjects. This accomplishment reflects the child's diligence, discipline, and commitment to excellence, as well as the continuous support provided by Tabitha Home.

Clothes Drive

As part of our community support initiatives, Tabitha Home organized a clothes drive in partnership with members of our cooperative women group. Clothing, shoes, food items, and other essential household supplies were distributed to vulnerable women within the community.

The outreach brought relief to several families while strengthening our relationship with members of the host community. It also reaffirmed our commitment to extending compassion beyond the children in our care to other vulnerable members of society.

New Addition

During the month, Tabitha Home welcomed a new boy into the Home, bringing the number of our residential beneficiaries to 63. He was referred to us after financial challenges prevented him from continuing his education. As a half-orphan, his father has been unable to adequately provide for the family's educational and welfare needs.

His admission reflects our continued commitment to restoring hope and creating opportunities for vulnerable children to access quality care, education, and a brighter future.

World Youth Skills Day

In commemoration of World Youth Skills Day, ten of our teenagers and young adults participated in a skills development programme organized by the Derayo Foundation. The training exposed participants to practical vocational and entrepreneurial skills, including fashion design, crafts, digital marketing, and other relevant career pathways.

The programme equipped the children with valuable knowledge that will contribute to their personal development and future self-reliance. In recognition of their enthusiasm and potential, two participants were awarded six-month scholarships to receive advanced training in their chosen fields of Digital Marketing and Nail Craft, providing them with an opportunity to develop marketable skills for future employment and entrepreneurship.

CONCLUSION

July 2026 was a month of remarkable academic achievements, community impact, and personal development at Tabitha Home. The successful completion of another academic session, outstanding academic performances, community outreach through the clothes drive, the admission of a new beneficiary, and participation in vocational skills training all reflected our commitment to raising confident, responsible, and self-reliant young people.

As we prepare for a new academic year, Tabitha Home remains dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment where every child can thrive academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. We remain sincerely grateful to our partners, donors, volunteers, and supporters whose unwavering generosity continues to make our mission possible and transform the lives of the children entrusted to our care.

Links:

• Summary of July, Happy new month Appreciation from Tabitha Home
• Summary of World Youth Skill Day Experience Organised by Derayo
• Tabitha Home University Students Grace our Content