Child Right and Parenting Outreach

FAME Foundation, in partnership with Laureus Sport for Good, organised its Child Rights and Parenting Outreach under the PLAY it DREAM it program on October 25, 2025, at the Durumi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja. The outreach aimed to educate mothers, caregivers, and young girls on child protection, positive parenting, and the importance of building nurturing home environments that support children’s growth and development.

More than 70 women and girls from the camp participated in the session, which focused on creating awareness about child rights and addressing key issues such as gender inequality, limited access to education, and the emotional impact of displacement on families. The discussions encouraged participants to adopt more empathetic approaches to parenting while understanding how their actions and attitudes affect children’s behaviour, mental health, and emotional well-being.

The outreach featured an interactive mentorship session led by Ms. Chizoba Anyadiegwu, who spoke on “The Impact of Violence on Child Development: Why Every Form of Abuse Must Stop.” She began by helping participants identify different forms of violence, physical, emotional, and verbal and explained how exposure to any of these can have long-term effects on a child’s growth, learning, and social relationships.

Ms. Chizoba described how children who experience or witness abuse often struggle with low self-esteem, fear, anxiety, and difficulty building trust. She explained that violence can hinder a child’s ability to focus, communicate, and form healthy emotional attachments. Using relatable examples, she illustrated how frequent yelling, harsh punishment, or neglect can leave lasting psychological scars, even when the intent was to discipline or correct behaviour.

The session included small group discussions where mothers reflected on their parenting habits and identified areas they could improve. Participants discussed the pressures of raising children in difficult living conditions and how stress and frustration sometimes lead to harmful disciplinary methods. Facilitators guided them on practical alternatives such as positive discipline, open communication, and active listening.

Ms. Chizoba highlighted that nurturing, non-violent environments help children develop confidence, empathy, and resilience. She encouraged parents to show affection, acknowledge effort, and provide emotional support, especially during difficult times. She also emphasized that communities share responsibility for protecting children from abuse and that preventing violence begins with awareness and early intervention.

Participants engaged actively in the discussions, asking questions and sharing personal experiences. Many expressed that the session helped them understand the difference between discipline and abuse, and they pledged to adopt more constructive parenting methods. The women also discussed ways to support one another in maintaining safe homes and promoting education for their children, despite the challenges of displacement.

FAME Foundation continues to use its PLAY it DREAM it program to reach vulnerable communities, helping families build stronger bonds, improve communication, and create supportive environments where children can thrive.