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As part of the activities to mark the 30th anniversary of Serendipity House Widows’ Foundation, Olori Yemisi Jaiyeola, Missioner of the organization, has rolled out fundraising campaign to raise funds to take care of widows.
Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the foundation, Olori Jaiyeola remembers her late husband, Omo-Oba Venerable Dr Babs Oluyemisi Jaiyeola, a cardiologist of great repute, who translated into glory 17 years ago, leaving the ministry behind for his wife.
Dame Ayo says she could not have done the work without God, her children and very caring concerned men and women she calls “Venerable”. She says these are the ones who took over from the late Venerable Jaiyeola.
She said that in 2008, she and her husband were taking care of 28 widows and their who all she continued to take care of.
Today, Olori Jaiyeola and her Widowcare outfit, Serendipity House after 30 years have slowly and steadily run the widows’ centre.
She says she will not stop thanking God for the very few clergymen and their wives who are standing with her.
“My hearty thanks go to two schools, Individual men of God, women of worth, NGOs that walked in to serve with me, especially pastors who are not from the Anglican Church where i worship,” she stated.
She expressed her appreciation to the Board of Directors of the foundation led by Bishop (Prof.) Dapo Asaju, Bishop Theologian, Church of Nigeria, and Lord Bishop of Ilesha Diocese.
According to Olori Jaiyeola, “Serendipity House Widows’ Foundation Centre is a place of refuge for widows. A place to run to when seeking God’s face. A place known as Calvary where prayers are answered.”
She disclosed that her home has sheltered widows in the past 17 years and over 37,500 widows have been served. 900 widows at a time.
The Dame of Charity prayed for their old helpers and more supporters who will adopt the centre and support it with their offering as well as food items, clothing that will help the centre to further its cause.
The missioner said that every month there are programmes, activities and projects that require that widows get food, healthcare service, counseling, and financial support.
Listing the activities of the foundation for the year, she disclosed that every Tuesday is an open day to widows for social activities and counseling, adding that every fourth day of the month is for the Berakah Praise Breakfast Fellowship.
According to her, every third Saturday of the month is for the general sponsored Breakfast Fellowship.
She stated that any widow is allowed to partake of God’s goodness and receive food, beverages and other kinds of support at the center.
The missioner disclosed that the food programme has been a very successful project and that more food is needed to take care the needs of 900 widows at a time yearly. She said more funds are need to carry out other activities.
Olori Jaiyeola says without God one can’t find help to run an NGO and thanks God for sending help to her.
She says she has seen God send help after every prayer and thought.
According to her, the 500 Widowcare Club is growing in good numbers, adding that more support is needed to meet daily needs of families, households and everyone. She urged everyone who can spare a bit of care monthly to fund the widows’ centre.
Olori Jaiyeola posited that widows and widowers are made every second daily and some children become motherless, fatherless, or orphaned on a daily basis.
To mark the 30th anniversary, she says every month in year 2025 will have an activities geared towards helping the needy in society.
She disclosed that in January, there was a visit to their adopted orphanage in Ibadan and February, the widows’ centre will raise funds for the year’s projects with a simple luncheon with 150 widows picked around Lagos.
According to her, there will be will be a skills acquisition programme for 12 widows who will become trainers to others till the end of year 2025 and in April there will be an excursion to a nice place of interest in Lagos.
She said that May will be dedicated to health matters and all widows will be registered with a Health Management Organization. She stated that this will reduce the sickness and deaths of widows.
According to her, June 23rd is Widows’ Day and over 500 widows will be gathered and taught about their rights as widows.
Other activities are July some business seminars; August is farming at Mowe at the Widows Camp; September career talk with children of widows; October; business exhibition by widows.
According to her, in November, there will be a retreat on how to live single and win as single person, and on December 13, there will be a widows’ end of year party, where about 500 widows will be treated like queens of God that they are.
However, Olori Dame Ayo Yemisi Jaiyeola appealed to the public to donate to the foundation so that it can raise funds and do more for widows.
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