Kunle ADELABU
The team leader of ‘Finding a need and Filling it” (FANAFILLIT), an Ikorodu based organization which organises the annual GLOWFUX (Giving Love With Fun 4 Xmas) ,Mr Maclauren Oserinde, has stated that the idea behind the charity programme is to give less privileges and orphans in the society the opportunity to enjoy Christmas like other privileged children.
Mr Oserinde revealed this during his appearance on THE IMPACT whatssAp platform Discourse on Saturday, November 3, 2018.
He stated that GLOWFUX came into existence as a result of creative thinking of finding a need and filling such in the society.
“GLOWFUX, which is an acronyms for ‘Giving Love With Fun 4 Xmas’, came into being as a result of our creative thinking at Fanafillit on finding a need and filling it.
“We observed that Christmas day signifies a global end of the year event and an avenue for friends and families who have been so far away all through the year to reunite for homecoming. Hence, it’s usually a high note of celebration everywhere.
“And part of the activities that goes with such event are family outings to picnics, concerts, award night, movie trains et al.
“However, we recognized that there are some folks out there who do not have the luxury of enjoying the fun of the Xmas celebration to the fullest, especially those folks at less privileged homes. This is so because most of the homes owners/proprietors, after spending so much all through the year in catering for the needs of these folks, cannot bear the financial implication of taking the ‘children’ out for such exotic outings.
Mr Oserinde stated that GLOWFUX is meant to create a platform for the less privileges, especially motherless children in orphanages, to have a feel of the Xmas period.
“Hence, we felt it won’t be out of place if we create a platform whereby all less privileges in orphanages homes will be brought together on Christmas day and avail them joy of witnessing varieties of activities that make for an high octane events such as concert, etc.
“It is our belief that such platform should be a good medium to reach out to members of the general public (via invitation to the event) to come forth with their good tidings such as gift items in all colours like domestic needs as presentations for the orphanages in attendance.
Justifying December 25 as the most appropriate day for the event, the GLOWFUX team leader stated that less privileges deserve same feelings and opportunity that their privileged counterparts enjoy on Xmas day.
“As the name implies, it is to hold on Christmas day. Many have asked the question “why Christmas day and not day after?” and our position remains that what is good for the goose ( the privileged folks) should be good for the gander ( the less privileges).
“Therefore, we believe that those who key into the idea will not only do so by supporting in cash and kind but by sacrificially attending every edition”.
The annual event, which started three years ago, was first held at the Divine Heritage Homes, Gintin in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), while the last year’s edition was held at Funcity Amusement.
“The venue for this year’s edition is Funcity. We also held the 2nd edition (2017) at Funcity and the owner of the centre, Mayor Deen Sanwoola, has been so magnanimous in accommodating us for this year edition once again”, he stated.
On the impact of GLOWFUX on the society, Mr Oserinde emphasized that the annual event is a charitable initiative meant to give love to less privileges and generate supports for orphanage homes in Ikorodu.
“The essence of the project is primarily to give them(less privileges) the rare privilege of celebrating their Christmas day in an unusual atmosphere away from their conventional environment in the midst of their folks from other less privilege homes and families that are privileged but appreciate their existence.
“It is also to serve as a medium to generate support for all the homes. Starting from this year’s edition, we shall be undertaking a project for each homes. We are going to ask the homes to supply us with list of amenities (such as dry cleaning machine, boreholes etc) they have urgent needs for and we shall announce such at the event and request our guests (members of the public) to support the projection of providing for at least one of those amenities before the end of the 1st quarter of the following year”, he revealed.
Mr Oserinde also spoke about the projection for the initiative.
“As for the sustainability of the initiative, we strongly believe it’s an initiative that will outlives the initiators and facilitators because our projection is to make GLOWFUX a statewide project (accommodating all Orphanages in Lagos State).
Speaking further on the previous editions of the project and recognizing supports from the public, Mr Oserinde stated:
“The maiden edition was held at the Divine Heritage Homes, Ginti, in order to kick-start the project in accordance with the minimal resources at our disposal then. And to God be the glory, it was well attended and supported by the likes of Alhaji Taiwo Oshikoya (CEO, Corsican Brothers Nigeria) who later became GLOWFUX Patron, Alhaja Funmi Oshinowo Bashorun who also accepted to take up the responsibility of GLOWFUX Matron, Mr. Kunle Adelabu, Publisher, THE IMPACT Newspaper, Pastor Adeyemi of Embrace Church of God, Ikorodu, Hon. Babajimi Benson and many others.
He also listed Mr Lamina Azzez, Publisher,Waves Magazine, Mrs Rukayat Onabanjo, Dr Abiodun Fatai Abatan, Mr Remi Alashe, Barr. Saheed O.K. Shillings and Mr Oluwakemi Hassan among many others who had giving supports to the cause.
While stating that since inception the project has been self-financing with supports from some individuals and organizations, Mr Oserinde said that new ideas are being introduced to raise fund for this year’s edition and carry more members of the public along.
“Over the time, the project had been self-financed with splinter of supports from the likes of aforementioned.
“This year, considering the fact that we have introduced new initiatives into the project which includes GLOWFUX Kiddies Ambassadors Hall of Fame, so much fund is required to make it possible and we are working on plans to go out of our horizon and seek for supports of individuals.
He also revealed that the organizers are planning to sell GLOWFUX Charity Cards.
“Part of the strategies deployed towards raising funds to cushion the effect of logistics and some other pre-event needs is the production of ‘GLOWFUX Charity Card’, which will serve as access card and it is to be purchased by anyone interested in attending or supporting the event”.
Explaining the ‘GLOWFUX Kiddies Ambassadors Hall of fame’ concept, Oserinde stated:
“The ‘Glowfux Kiddies Ambassadors Hall of Fame’ was designed for smart Kids from ages 5 to 17 with good parental care, quality circle of friends/schoolmates, family friends, neighbours etc.
“They’re to serve as the project ambassadors within their immediate communities (Schools, homes, worship/religious centres, etc) to propagate the GLOWFUX vision.
We propose to induct about 15 of them this year and their roles and responsibilities shall also be made known.
Other roles expected of the GLOWFUX Kiddies Ambassadors, according to Oserinde, are “to leverage on their parents’ support and guidance to reach out to their family members, family friends, circle of friends/schoolmates, teachers, Pastors/Imam, neighbours etc and spread the gospel of GLOWFUX and inviting them to attend the event on Christmas day with whatever they have for the orphanages.
“To participate in the campaign for GLOWFUX and any of its humanitarian projects which would be duly outlined and announced to them (through their parents) whenever such occasion arises.
On the benefits of being GLOWFUX Kiddies Ambassadors, the team leader stated, “The heavenly blessings they shall receive for bearing the joy of others in mind right from childhood.”
”They shall be certified and decorated as GLOWFUX Ambassadors on the day of the induction (this year’s edition of GLOWFUX).
“The ambassadorial task will also give them early life exposure to the beauty of caring for others.
“More so, it will give them early life exposure in championing worthy cause and building network of positive minded people and many others.”
Mr Oserinde, however, sought for supports from the members of the public towards achieving success during this year’s edition.
“We still need more supports as our vision for this year is to have a massive outing that will leave a lasting memory in the minds of the participating orphanages and members of the general public such that they’ll always look forward to another edition of GLOWFUX”.
GLOWFUX is available online (Facebook and Instagram) @glowfux.
Organizers can also be reached through 07032312815 and 0813 933 5141.
Corporate account details for cash donations towards the project is:
Account name : FANAFILLIT Integrated Concepts.
Account number : 0032163172 .
Bank : Diamond Bank.
