Christmas is the season of giving and spreading joy. Homes are filled with excited family members and relatives. Houses are adorned with Christmas tree laden with colorful decorative and lights.
During the week of the Christmas, many people were busy prepping up for the celebration while others were there finding means to bring smile to the faces of the hopeless, one of such group is a Nongovernmental Organization, GIVE LIFE Foundation Resource Development and Empowerment.
This organization added joy in the lives of the needy by giving a whole new meaning to their celebrations.
The non-for-profit organization provided a little over 1, 500 bags of 25kg rice and food assorted items along with gifts for Orphanage homes, less privilege and Old Folks in Montserrado County.
These target groups are served due to varying reasons. Key among is to encourage them about life not to give up.
Ambassador Otis Harris, the Chief Executive Officer of GIVE LIFE Foundation, revealed that the donation is his way of identifying with the people during the festive season.
According to him, the donation is just a little component of the activities GIVE LIFE Foundation is engaged with. “We do these things every July and December as to bring smiles to the faces of the needy,” he said.
Ambassador Harris disclosed that the organization was established to create lot of opportunities for less fortunate people to realize their goals as to become useful in society.
“I realized that the people of Liberia need help, government cannot do it all, so my family and I established the GIVE LIFE Foundation in Moscow, Russia to create the opportunity and help less privileged, old folks and orphans to better their lives to be people who the nation will count on tomorrow,” he added.
Besides the donation, the foundation has provided over 150 local and international scholarships for Liberians and created over 500 jobs opportunities for lot of young people.
CEO Harris has funded many Rehab centers to rehabilitate hundreds (100s) of disadvantaged youth whom most of them are gainfully employed today. According to him, when the government of Liberia provides him the opportunity, he will create lot of opportunities for the less fortunate people as well.
He added: “I want to see these children in goodness of nutrition and support their education. Sound health and regular schooling to prepare them to be resourceful citizens in the near future. My contribution to the youth in Liberia through this NGO is to help build the future of the current and next generations to serve our nation and the world at large; we want to expand our operations and services to more locations thereby benefiting more children. Nutrition and education are two of the everlasting gifts that have the potential to improve the lives of children. It empowers them to dream big; it empowers them to be skillful, resourceful, and achievers in their own fields,”
Ambassador Otis Harris is a Liberian, with an established family, an international businessman involved in building materials, energy power (solar lights) among others.
Making remarks at the donation ceremony, GIVE LIFE Foundation’s partner, Itter Pharmacy Chief Executive Officer, Nabil EL Eter commended Ambassador Harris for his farsightedness to give back to society during the festival season at which time the people are really in need.
He added that Itter Pharmacy will not hesitate to give to the needy in partnership with GIVE LIFE.
Mr. Jonny Sneh, CEO, SNS Company acknowledged the difficulty old folks and disable community are going through, noting that his organization will work with GIVE LIFE and Itter Pharmacy to reach all out.
Also speaking, Pastor Mana Wesaye of the Love The Child Orphanage Home commended the donor for the timely gesture and urged them for more supports to the home as to keep the children happy at all times.
For his part, Mr. Beyan Kota of the Liberia Christian Association of the Blind, said: “We are grateful that you have come especially in time of the season and to share with us, we appreciate you for what you have demonstrated here today and we look forward for more”
Meanwhile, the chairman of GIVE LIFE Foundation, Jeremiah N. Sandiman promised the organization endless and fullest supports to the people of Liberia.
According to him, GIVE LIFE Foundation Resource Development and Empowerment has been operating in Liberia for the last four years with impact felt in all segment of the country.
