When my parents, Francis and Keziah travelled from the U.S to our village, Ogbor Umuegwu Mpam in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA in December 2017 to have a memorial service for my beautiful sister Chinonyerem (Chi-Chi) Noela who we lost to cancer at the young age of 36, our hearts were still very heavy with grief. The overwhelming sense of loss with no clear direction as to what next, where to begin or even how to move on was so devastating and all we had to hold onto was our hope and trust in God almighty to take care of us and to perfect all that concerned us.

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Despite their pain during this trip, it turned out that all their stories on their return to the U.S was centered on the hunger, lack, deprivation and poverty stricken situation they saw all around them. Our family has always given back to our community but when I listened to the stories they told and those of other friends who travelled home, I realized the urgent need to do more, something that went beyond our usual giving gifts and food during the Christmas season; to do something that will make a lasting impact as well as benefit the future generation.

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Amidst all this was the passionate desire that every member of my family had to continue Chi-Chi’s legacy of love, selflessness and care especially for little children. Noela4kids was named after Chi-Chi who was born on Dec 25th 1980 and given the name Noela by our Aunt Dr. Joyce Oguh.

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And so the idea began to take shape. Why not start somewhere, with the smallest nursery and primary school closest to our village, to provide a basic nutritious safe meal that will not be easily contaminated; and so we settled for bread, milk and egg for every child.

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We kicked this off on Tuesday March 6, 2018 with 40 kids at St. Silas nursery school where we provide a lunch of 2 slices of bread, chocolate milk and an egg to every child twice every week.

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On Monday July 2, 2018, we expanded to community nursery and primary school Mpam Ama with 124 children being fed.

This vision I believe is a vision that everyone shares because no one will want any child to go hungry. If we could get every person who could spare just a little bit of whatever they could afford to contribute something, then we will move on to the next nursery and primary school in the next unreached, innermost communities who would otherwise go unnoticed.

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Thank you,

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Uzoamaka A. Nwanyanwu Eke, M.D.