14 February 2023,

Abuja.

On Saturday, the 11th of February, 2023, the Active Lifestyle Project (ALP) team and volunteers kept to its mission of promoting healthy lifestyles.

And as a way to show love in this special valentine season, the ALP team organized a playdate for the special needs children living in JKs home, Abuja.

JKs Home is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that caters for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children living with various forms of neuro-developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities.

Such conditions includes Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Downs Syndrome, Autism etc.

These disabilities account for 13·3% of the 29·3 million Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) for all health conditions among children younger than 5 years, and so, prompts urgent action for investments in interventions that improve quality of living for these children that make up this large populace, nationally and globally.

One way scientifically identified to achieve this is through play therapy.

Play is an essential part of the learning and development of all children. More so, play is important for children with special needs as it helps develop their social, communication, emotional and motor skills.

This was what prompted the play date and our visit to JKs Home. The ALP team visiting comprised public health workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, child psychologists, educators and volunteers with passion for child health.

We spent the day playing, painting and listening to stories of children living lives a bit different from some of us.

We witnessed less of their disabilities and more of their different abilities: From Christian the “Picasso”, Sharon the “Tower Builder”, Anjola and Bisola the “NFT Artists” and so many other potentials in the room.

Some of these beautiful children could not hear, speak, or respond but we got to connect with them heart to heart, with love, laughter and play. 

Donations of foodstuffs, toys, and daily household consumables were also made to the home.

The Director of JKs Home, Mrs Nifemi Ajileye, in her remark thanked the ALP team for spending over three hours of their time with the children.

She commented that though she appreciates the donations made to the home, it is incomparable to the joy she feels at witnessing the time, energy and resources the team has dedicated to interacting with the kids.

“It always feels great to bring smiles to the faces of these children and I hope this is not the last time we will be seeing you,” she added.

Miss Nwaliweaku Anidi (Lead, ALP) thanked the team and volunteers for subscribing to such an act of love, notwithstanding their own different individual challenges, on that day.

Their charitable visit and play with the children would help to create some positive impact in the children’s lives.

In her words, “the joy and love shared today have been incredibly valuable and impactful not only to the children but to the caregivers and the entire ALP team”.

Finally, the management of the ALP would like to appreciate the team, volunteers and the gracious donations by individuals and foundations.

A special ‘thank you' goes to Ojelobi Arts Home Foundation, for inspiring and supporting this dream.

The play date is one of many other engagements the ALP continues to organize as part of its commitment in reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases through physical activity.

Photo Gallery

Photos of the event can be accessed here.

About The Active Lifestyle Project

This is a social project which caters to young adults with demanding work schedules and aims to encourage physical activity through daily routines towards fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

This project, via media, virtual and physical events, has inspired thousands of young people to live actively, promoted awareness of national/international health campaigns, and addressed several NCDs, with strong potential for more.

Contact

Phone Number: 07057563276 | WhatsApp: 08067806659 | Email: [email protected] and [email protected] | Instagram: @activelifestyle.club