An appeal has been made to Muslims all over the country to support Muslim Orphanage Homes in terms of acceptance, sponsorship and fostering the children.
The President and founder of Halal Children’s Home, Arch Ramatu Abubakar said this recently during the launch of the Muslim Children’s Home in Omole estate, Lagos.
According to her, Fostering is recognised in Islam as it is a sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). She explained that he was fostered as a child and as an adult, he fostered many in his home.
“Let’s take these children off the street, give them a home where they have support and make them have a better future for themselves. For those who don’t want to raise the child in their home, they can foster such child right at the Children’s Home by paying for the school fees and upkeep of such child.
“There are concerns about people being reluctant to bring children from the Children’s Home into their family. This is a valid concern I must say as people don’t know where the child is coming from. What children need is love and support. Any child that you adopt and you give them the right training and acceptance, you will be surprised at how the child blossoms.”
Asides support through fostering, she hinted Muslims can support Orphanage Homes by rendering professional expertise at a subsidised rate. Lawyers, accountants, doctors, and others have been urged to assist with their expertise in this regard. She added that support could also be shown through spending time with the children and making dua for both the Home managers and children.
“The eight year old Children’s Home is located in Lugbe and life camp in Abuja, one in Kaduna, one in Lagos and very soon, another one will be opened in Ondo State, she stated.
“We started with a rented premises in Abuja, Allah opened the doors and we were able to build our own. So far, we have 48 children in all the Homes. We plan to be in the six geopolitical zones in the country.”
Explaining how some children ended up in a Children’s Home, she said, “From my experience in the last eight years, some children end up at our Home as a result of loss of either one or both parent, some other kids are vulnerable children, they end up with us as a result of being abused and the police put them in our Home for Safety. When a family is going through a divorce and the parent do not agree on who takes responsibility for the child or children, such child will be with us till a decision is reached. Sometimes, some children are found on the street and they may end up in our Home. We are more concerned about the safety of the child rather than where the child is coming from or circumstances that led him or her there.”
The Lagos Coordinator of Halal Muslim Home, Monsurat Oguntade hinted the new facility has the capacity of housing 21 children aged 0 to 18 years.
She hinted that there are no Muslim kids at the Home at the moment since the state government determines which child goes to the orphanage Home.
“They will call us when there is a child available whether at the police station or their office. We are not allowed to accept a child or pick a child from the street except if the government approves. That’s the standard practice in Lagos.”
