Marist foundation promotes transformation of lives amidst covid-19 pandemic

Marist Solidarity Foundation (MaSoF), a solidarity agency of the Marist Province of Nigeria is faithful to its cardinal six points agenda. This always pushes a button in the agency to reach out to the young people and aged on the margins. In whatever it does, the solidarity agency remains focused on the following:

1. Promotion of education, solidarity justice and peace.
2. Identification with the poor and oppressed in the society.
3. Support of the spiritual and cultural empowerment of the youth and act in solidarity with the oppressed.
4. Promotion of human right and self-determination.
5. Development and coordination of fund-raising strategies that will respond to the solidarity needs of the Marist Province of Nigeria.
6. Cooperation and collaboration with other solidarity groups and organisations towards the development of solidarity culture that responds to the needs of people on the margins.

The points one and two on the agenda were remarkable in the activities of MaSoF in the Covid-19 Pandemic era. Covid-19 made its first entrance in Nigeria through an Italian citizen who visited Ogun State via Lagos State. This first case was reported on the 27^th February 2020. The Covid-19 was quick to spread to the other parts of the country through the borders. The spread led to the total lockdown of all the sectors of the country. The education sector was not spared. The Marist Province of Nigeria that solely gets her income from school fees was badly hit.

The daily increase in the pandemic scared the whole nation. The federal government of Nigeria, in her wisdom decided that her citizens needed to remain safe. Therefore, there was a major national broadcast that schools should be closed. On 19^th March 2020, the federal government announced a total lockdown of the education sector. In support of the federal government’s decision on school closure, the various State governments also followed suit in the closure of State, private, and mission schools. In south-east geopolitical zone for example where the Marist Province of Nigeria gets most of her income to fund MaSoF, the closure of schools was imminent. Anambra State for instance closed secondary schools on the 27^th March 2020. Enugu State government also ordered the closure of schools on the same day. Ebonyi State, Imo State, and Abia State joined their counterparts and announced the closure of schools.

As a result of the pronouncement, all academic activities in the country were put to hold. MaSoF was really worried because this pronouncement meant no more income for the agency in carrying out its solidarity activities. The closure of schools forced learners and their teachers to be on a total lockdown at their homes. Despite lack of income from school fees, the Marist Province of Nigeria paid the salaries of the staff and took care of the feeding and medical treatment of the inmates of Nike Centre for the Disabled. Therefore, the total closure of schools did not deter MaSoF from carrying out its activities because the Province of Nigeria financially supported the agency fully.

In the promotion of education and solidarity, MaSoF felt that there was need to be in solidarity with the Brothers despite the economic meltdown as a result of the lockdown of schools. This is in respect of the old adage that charity begins at home. MaSoF gave comprehensive scholarship to seven candidates in the 2020/2021 academic session. These candidates were solely relatives of the Marist Brothers. The comprehensive scholarship comprises tuition fees, boarding fees, and educational resources. This enabled the Brothers beneficiaries to be more focused on their vocation and not to be distracted by family responsibilities.

In identifying with the poor on the margins, MaSoF dedicated its services in this recent time to the welfare of the inmates of Nike Centre for the Disabled. MaSoF collaborated with the Marist Chaplaincy of Umuchigbo Iji-Nike and organised monthly fundraising in order to help out in the feeding and medical attention of the inmates. The work of taking care of the inmates is enormous. Therefore, MaSoF is calling on the Marist International Solidarity Network to help out in this venture. This is because the Marist Province of Nigeria wants to run this social centre in a more professional way of international standard.

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MaSoF Team