Orphans
are usually not given a chance in life. For those who grew up in
orphanages, it is only by God’s grace that they can rise. Such is the
story of Akinyemi Ephraim George, who grew up at the Little Saints
Orphanage in Lagos. His fellow corps members stumbled on his story when
they visited the orphanage for their Community Development Service. To
George, it was a home-coming and a reminder of how he became a graduate”Who are the parents of Akinyemi Ephraim George? Are they still alive? Do they know that their son is now a graduate of Accounting from the Crawford University in Igbesa, Ogun State?
George does not sell provisions as depicted by the heap of food and household items behind him in this photograph. He is passing out with thousands of other 2013/2014 Batch B corps members today after completing the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The items were given by the Batch B corps members serving in Lagos State to the Little Saints Orphanage Home, in Akowonjo, a Lagos suburb, where he grew up with hundreds of other abandoned children, last Friday.
The stories of the abandoned children touched the hearts of the corps members who visited the home as part of their Community Development Service. They sighed in disbelief as they watched a documentary on how the orphanage rescued abandoned babies who came to the home emaciated, sick or near death.
They marvelled at the before and after photos of the children which showed marked difference in their well being weeks after receiving adequate care. The most touching of the stories was that of baby Mary who was found with three stab wounds inflicted by her frustrated mother a few weeks after her birth. She miraculously survived and has been adopted by foster parents.
It was therefore a great joy to the corps members when Mrs Mayen Famous, a member of the Board of Trustees in charge of boys’ hostel announced that George was one of such abandoned children. They cheered loudly as the quiet 25-year old was called forward to share the stage with the NYSC Coordinator for Lagos State, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi who led the corps members to the home.
Mrs Adeyemi said the choice of Little Saints Orphanage was made by the corps members, not because they were aware one of them grew up there but to give back to the society in fulfilment of one of the cardinal programmes of the NYSC.
