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June 8 2021

20,000 Women and Youth Benefit from Coca-Cola’s Special Intervention Programme (SIP)

WFF Empowerment, MSME, News, Training 1

SHAPE SIP 2020/2021 CLOSING CEREMONY

Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited in partnership with Whitefield Foundation has empowered over 20,000 individuals with business skills across the 36 states of Nigeria through the Special Intervention Program (SIP). Following the completion of the program this month, a closing ceremony was held on Monday, May 3rd.

The Special Intervention Program (SIP) is an innovative empowerment initiative developed by Whitefield Foundation and sponsored by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited. The initiative is part of the company’s effort to improve and support the livelihood of young Nigerians following the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which hit in 2020. The SIP program, which held virtually over the course of one year, was targeted at helping youth and women younger than 45 years of age across Nigeria.

Present at the closing ceremony were key dignitaries including the Chairman of Yaba LCDA, Hon. Kayode Omiyale; Vice-Chairman Yaba LCDA, Hon. Alhaji Bolanle Aileru; Whitefield Foundation Trustee, Dr. Oladoyin Sagoe; Founder of Whitefield Foundation, Olufunmilola Johnson; Director Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe; Senior Manager, Social Impact Strategy for Africa Operating Unit, Coca-Cola, Uche Ogbonna; and Chairman of Agriculture & Agro-Allied Group, Africanfarmer Mogaji.

In his opening speech, Vice-Chairman, Yaba LCDA, Hon. Alhaji Bolanle Aileru, who represented the Chairman remarked, “I applaud Coca-Cola and Whitefield Foundation for filling a gap in our community by engaging our youths and women. It is evident that partnerships and collaborations fuel outstanding results”. He also highlighted that the turnout from the communities was truly impressive and that Coca-Cola and Whitefield Foundation both exceeded expectations.

The closing ceremony featured the recognition of the individuals who had benefited from the program. Across the 36 states, people were trained and lectured in topics covering building a successful career, jobs of the future, business as a legal entity, customer service, funding your business, IT, the business of agriculture, catering, domestic essentials, and many more.

By the end of the program on April 16, 2021, participants had completed three different stages of courses comprising over 50 AudioVisual lessons which had over 1,000,000 page views on the website. The virtual training was taught by seasoned facilitators in their respective fields.

Speaking at the event, Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe explained, “At Coca-Cola, we are proud of the remarkable achievements of this program. As a company, we understand that 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it taught us innovation and opened our hearts to more acts of kindness to upscale what we do within our communities. We recognized that unemployment rates were on the rise with the poverty rates reaching a peak, and as a socially-responsible company focused on refreshing the world, we are also committed to making a difference in the lives of people and communities”.

A beneficiary from the training, Anu Oshilaja, founder of Annyz Fabric Bags, shared her life-changing story on the impact of the program and the funding she had received to further her business. As a token of her appreciation, she gifted beautifully hand-crafted bags to the women dignitaries at the event.

Founder, Whitefield Foundation, Olufunmilola Johnson, in her closing remarks stated, “We are excited by the success of The Special Intervention Program (SIP) and this initiative was born out of the need to help make more successful people who will grow our economy in Nigeria. We are focused on addressing seven UN Sustainable Development Goals covering no poverty, gender equality, zero hunger, quality education, partnerships, economic growth, and responsible consumption and production. We appreciate Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, who deemed us worthy of achieving this feat”. She thanked all stakeholders including the government officials, the facilitators of the classes, Coca-Cola executives, and the participants.

At the end of the event, 50 individuals were announced to receive N30,000 each to fund their business registration and start creating value for themselves. The ceremony ended with immense gratitude and joy from the beneficiaries who expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited as well as Whitefield Foundation for their support.

The SIP Program was part of Coca-Cola Nigeria’s COVID-19 Intervention following the impact of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy. This intervention saw the company fund several community-based initiatives focused on aiding the economic recovery of residents from the adverse effects of the pandemic.

January 8 2021

Paga Partners with Whitefield Foundation To Help MSMEs in Lagos

WFF Empowerment, food, MSME, News 0

Paga Limited – Nigeria’s leading mobile payments platform- has in keeping with their ethos of “Making Life Possible” partnered with the Whitefield Foundation to identify SME business owners who were caught in the cross-hairs of the unfortunate events of #ENDSARS protest in Lagos State.

The initiative called PAGA BOOST has benefited small business owners across Lagos State with about 60% of the beneficiaries located in the Lekki Axis.These include Artisans, Plumbers, Uber drivers, small event place owners, shop owners, petty traders, and more.

Building on the current work of driving efficient payments for online and offline businesses of which they currently have over 26000 agents across Nigeria. Paga’s intention is to help in making life possible once more for these young entrepreneurs and contribute to the rebuilding of our country.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Whitefield Foundation and Paga for this timely intervention that has made life possible again.

November 21 2020

185 #EndSARS Victims Benefit from Medical Intervention Fund

WFF COVID19 Relief, food, News 7

Coca-Cola/Whitefield Medical Intervention Fund

Medical Relief Initiative with CocaColaNG

185 #EndSARS Victims Benefit from Medical Intervention Fund Coca-Cola/Whitefield collaborate for Project Health Safety Support, HSS

In response to the widespread violence across the country that marred the peaceful #EndSARS protests and led to some deaths with many people injured and hospitalized, Coca-Cola Nigeria and its bottling partners (NBC) provided a N20 million donation to an NGO, Whitefield Foundation, to help defray the medical bills of some of the hospitalized victims.

Over the past three weeks, Whitefield Foundation has processed over 900 requests from across the country, most of which were found to be unrelated to the #EndSARS incidents. In the end, 185 patients being treated in 23 hospitals across 9 States Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Lagos, Edo, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau as well as the FCT, Abuja, benefited from the intervention fund.

The patients are being treated for various degrees of injuries, including gunshots, and amounts ranging from N10,000 to N300,000 were disbursed directly to their respective hospitals on their behalf. Unfortunately, some of the patients have had to undergo amputation and will be provided with prosthetic limbs, to enhance their ability to function normally post-recovery.

About 30% were outpatients while 70% were on admission of which 21% had been discharged as of Thursday, 12^th November 2020.

Speaking on the intervention, Funmi Johnson, CEO, Whitefield Foundation said “This has been an eye-opening, hope-restoring, and sometimes heart-breaking experience for me. Going round hospitals in person, and also reviewing reports from agents and patients across Nigeria leaves me grateful to Coca-Cola Nigeria.

Several people have been saved from untimely death by their support. I appeal to corporate organizations and people of means to support NGOs to bring more relief initiatives to the helpless. The healthcare system in this nation needs all the help and support it can get. I plead with all Nigerians to shun violence at all cost.”

In a statement released on its Twitter handle on the 23^rd of October, 2020, Coca-Cola Nigeria, while announcing the intervention and partnership with Whitefield Foundation said, “Coca-Cola along with our bottling partners Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, are committed to making a difference in our communities as such we have made a donation of N20million to our NGO Partner Whitefield Foundation to help defray the medical bills of victims in hospitals”

Whitefield Foundation over the years has committed itself to social intervention, community capacity building, and socially meaningful and impactful programs that have helped hundreds lead a more meaningful life.

In 2002, the NGO in the aftermath of the unfortunate bombing episode in Lagos, Whitefield distributed free food support to over 4000 households impacted by the incident. During the COVID lockdown, the NGO produced and distributed over 5000 bottles of hand sanitizers to high-risk households as well as managed food distribution networks to families in the Yaba axis of Lagos.

The partnership with Coca-Cola Nigeria and other stakeholders in the medical sector across the 10 states is yet another meaningful intervention designed to help save lives.

August 1 2020

Coke Cares Save Lives And Children

WFF COVID19 Relief, food, News 0

CokeCares Volunteer Program Outreach

Whitefield Foundation, a non governmental organization committed to poverty eradication has been deeply involved in mobilization and distribution of food relief to those whose life has been impacted negatively by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Her training and resource center at 25, McEwen Street, off Herbert Macaualay Street, Sabo, Yaba now serves temporarily as a food relief packaging and distribution center. With focus on families, women, widows and the elderly, the foundation hopes to reach at least 10,000 families with food relief before the end of July, 2020.

Across the world, Coca-Cola employees marked the beverage giant’s 134th anniversary in humble fashion, with most activities focused on community good and on corporate reflection on how to make a difference in a world that has been bedeviled by the COVID 19 pandemic.

Lagos, the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, has been hard hit economically, with the megacity recording over 1,800 out of the 4300 cases in the Country. The four weeks lockdown inadvertently crippled economic activity hitting the urban poor acutely with many families unable to fend for themselves. Rising crimes of opportunity were recorded with an uptick in domestic violence, all evidence to a city pressed to the wall.

In a bid to uplift hearts and put smiles on the faces of residents in the Sabo Community of Yaba, Lagos, associates, under the auspices of the Associate Volunteer Program- CokeCARES, in partnership with the Whitefield Foundation, launched a Food Support Program, committed to sharing the special anniversary moment with 134 vulnerable families living in a small urban community in Lagos.

In a pleasant twist and with the matching grant support of West Africa BU Leadership Team, the group surpassed their target and ended up with more food than anticipated.

At the end of the day, a total of 161 families had received food supply for a week while about 100 more beneficiaries, living within the community, received smaller food packs to last them a couple of days. 10 old women who could not get to the venue had food supplies taken to their houses to support them.

Each weekly food supply pack contained 10kg of Garri (local carbohydrate meal), 7.5Kg of rice, 5Kg of Beans, 1 carton of noodles (40 packs), 1 crate of 30 eggs, a pack of milk, a pack of Eva water, a bottle of hand sanitizer and a small basket of fruits.

Whitefield Foundation, with over 10 years’ experience in social programs and community sustainability initiatives, managed the logistics of the CokeCARES Volunteer Food program. The NGO only recently concluded a TCCF Funded women empowerment program that trained about 600 women.

Speaking about the experience, Mrs. Funmi Johnson, CEO of Whitefield Foundation expressed her joy with the event as it contributed towards helping the foundation achieve her goal of feeding 10,000 families by July 2020.

“providing food relief to people especially the elderly, widows, and families will go a long way to help more people stay home and stay safe. Proving food relief at this period is a responsibility we must all rise up to fulfill, not just the governing authorities. We appreciate the CocaCola staff for this novel support to mark the company’s anniversary. It is indeed remarkable and we hope more corporate bodies will follow in their footstep.’

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Kayode, a 71yr old retiree with young children, was full of praise for the food relief received. ” It has been a very difficult time for my family. I have even applied to the government and several outlets for assistance and food support during this period without any success. This pack will not only feed my family for a week but will last us for up to three weeks. Thank you to Whitefield foundation and CocaCola staff, now I feel a sense of relief”

Another beneficiary, Kafayat, a petty trader and mother of two children, said, ‘This is the biggest food relief pack I have ever received. It is very much more than I expected’

Whitefield foundation ‘feed a family’ project provides foodstuffs that can feed a family of five for an average of 10days. The food pack is made up of the main staple foods in Nigeria proportioned in a healthy and balanced way along with fruits for wholesome living.

June 1 2020

Partner With Us

WFF Blog, News projects, women, youth 12

Whitefield Foundation is a not for-profit organization that is result oriented and passionate about eradicating poverty, engendering economic growth and promoting gender equality through empowerment initiatives.

Since her establishment in 2003, Whitefield Foundation has been at the forefront of providing empowerment, educational and entrepreneurial programs to thousands of women and young adults in Lagos, Nigeria.

Whitefield Foundation activities are powered by our belief in people becoming self-sufficient, highly-productive and society builders.

Presently, we are working with The CocaCola Foundation to train and empower hundreds of disadvantaged and underprivileged women in Lagos State.

We are also in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment to facilitate internships for thousands of unemployed graduates.

Our goal is to reach and impact 1m women and youth in Africa with economically viable skills, I.C.T skills, and Basic Business Management skills.

We also want to provide food relief to at least 5,000 families adversely affected by the pandemic outbreak.

We believe that these goals require partnerships to be achieved and we will be willing to partner with you to be able to bring empowerment and quality education to more youth and women, feed more families and help the communities stand strong against all vices.

For Partnership, You can donate to our account:

Account Name: Whitefield Foundation

Account Number: 5400346031

Bank Name: Providus Bank

You may also use the donate now button below.

For donations in other currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, etc.) kindly reach us via the following contact;

email: info@whitefieldfoundation.ng

Telephone Number: +234 905 754 0000 (WhatsApp enabled)

Thank you

May 10 2020

Covid19 Food Relief

WFF COVID19 Relief, food, News covid19, feedafamily, Food Relief, projects, women 6

Feed A Family Food Relief Initiative

The Feed A Family Project has been an initiative of the Whitefield Foundation for over ten years. In our commitment to Zero hunger and poverty eradication, we usually maintain a food bank for welfare purposes. Distribution is normally based on application.

With the global pandemic and the ensuing four weeks lockdown, economic activities have come to an abrupt downturn. Many families’ income has become badly hit, with job losses, halved or unpaid wages, and in case of artisans, no income at all.

In response to the challenges bedeviling the society and armed with community information, we upgraded our food bank and activated the ‘Feed A Family Project’. The objective was to reach at least 10,000 families with food support for a week. The food package comprises of balanced meal packs of Rice, Garri, Beans, Egg, and Fruits.

Our focus group are women in families, single mothers, widows, the elderly, and artisans whose daily income has been badly affected by the pandemic-induced economic crisis. Based on support from well-meaning Nigerians locally and in the diaspora, we have so far been able to reach close to 1,000 families.

Given our track record of performance, the CocaCola Care Food Program in celebration of the organization’s 134th anniversary recently reached out to us.

The food pack for a family consisted of 10kg Garri, 5Kg Beans, 5Kg Rice, a crate of egg, a carton of noodles, a pack of fruits, a roll of milk sachets and a bottle of hand sanitizer.

Beneficiaries were all arranged according to the standard social distancing rules. Seats and floors were marked as appropriate. It is important to note that the resource center has also been fumigated since the last exercise was held.

However, the movement of people out of the facility with bountiful food packages created a ripple effect in the community leading to more needy people coming for supplies. In order to cater to the need of the community, about extra 100 mature women benefitted from the food distribution.

The Food Support Program’s objective of reaching 161 families was not only met but exceeded; reaching additional 100 families.

April 30 2020

S.H.A.P.E 2020 Series One

WFF Blog, Empowerment, MSME, News, Training projects, women, youth 1

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The objective of S.H.A.P.E 2020 was to empower disadvantaged and
unemployed women between the ages of 18yrs and 50yrs. SHAPE 2020 commenced in Lagos, Nigeria on February 3, 2020 and was completed on March 27, 2020.

237 women have graduated from this empowerment program and about 150 businesses started already. All the students are beaming with increased confidence improved competence in business management and dexterity in acquired skill.

Single mothers, frustrated housewives, jobless graduates, widows and women of diverse culture, religion and language now have a common platform and support system to keep them progressing in their newly acquired skill.

The number of women in need of empowerment in an urban center like Lagos is highly underestimated. These women though exposed to the glitz of urban life are disadvantaged at leveraging the opportunities.

Family demands and societal bias creates a major entry barrier in them becoming economically empowered yet most of them are passionate and willing to breakthrough if given the opportunity.

There is a need to expand the empowerment skills into new frontiers as the market place needs are changing in a digital age.