'I have seen the 'horrors' of poverty. We have to act now'
BORN in Nigeria and after witnessing a life of poverty first-hand, Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood vowed to try to make a difference.
Now the 27-year-old, of Stableford, known as Ife, has approached a North Staffordshire MP in a bid to call on the Government to do more to tackle world famine.
Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood wants the UK government to take action on the problem of starving children across the world. Picture: Phil Radcliffe Stone MP Bill Cash has been very 'receptive' towards the campaign. 
She is also demanding a crack-down on some large companies and corporations whose 'questionable practices' have been known to force African farmers off their land.
Ife said: "First of all the fact that I am African inspired me to take up this cause.
"Also, I volunteer at Oxfam, and they campaign against such issues as land-grabbing and UK companies not paying taxes they owe to developing companies.
"Simply put, there is no need for people to have to donate money for food aid. If this land wasn't being taken from the poor to help fuel developed countries, starvation wouldn't be a concern. Rather than donating, we should try to make sure that the Africans affected keep their land so they can become self-sufficient. It's a much better solution."
Ife admits going to meet Bill Cash to ask him to write to the Government left her a little daunted.
And she was worried that her protests might fall on deaf ears.
However, the Conservative MP, who has worked on many campaigns in Africa – was extremely receptive to her concerns.
"I was surprised by what Bill Cash was like. I'm not Conservative, and although I read about him extensively I didn't know how to approach him," Ife said.
"I thought he might've been dismissive, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. He was very open and receptive. I know he's been active in African issues before – he campaigned passionately against HIV in the continent in the 1980s at the height of the AIDS epidemic – and he seemed to care a lot about this."
Growing up in Nigeria, Ife has witnessed at first hand the inequalities plaguing the African continent.
While she is reluctant to go into details of the trauma she has seen, she confirms it was this background which led her towards her charity work.
She is also studying for a masters degree in international relations at Kings College in London, dividing her time between North Staffordshire and the capital.
"I used to live in Nigeria until 2007 and I've seen this first hand. It's an injustice that's happening all over. 10,000 people lost their land in Ethiopia last year.
"I didn't want to do nothing while millions of people go hungry. That's why I got involved in the IF campaign.
"George Osborne's Budget will contain decisions about how our country's money is spent, and it can help lay the foundations for a world free from hunger.
"I'm happy I've had my say on how the budget should be used to transform lives and build a better future, and I would encourage others to do the same."
Now Ife is encouraging anybody who shares her beliefs to come forward and join the campaign.
"We will keep on writing about this issue," she said.
"There are a lot of young people out there who are passionate about this issue and we'd love to get them involved.
"The message is that there's plenty of food to go around in this world, and I'm sure that's a sentiment everyone can agree with.
"While I agree that charities should help, if this land-grabbing wasn't happening they wouldn't have to – it doesn't have to be this way."
Max Lawson, a spokesman for the IF campaign, said that although Britain has a great track record of helping the needy, more needs to be done to help get the world's poorest nations back on their feet.
He said: "Our Government should match the generous spirit of the British people and continue the progress already made, saving lives and reducing poverty – we could be the generation to stop hunger."
To get involved in the IF Campaign join them at www.enoughfoodif.org or contact Ife at ifeokafor@gmail.com
Now the 27-year-old, of Stableford, known as Ife, has approached a North Staffordshire MP in a bid to call on the Government to do more to tackle world famine.
Ifesinachi Okafor-Yarwood wants the UK government to take action on the problem of starving children across the world. Picture: Phil Radcliffe Stone MP Bill Cash has been very 'receptive' towards the campaign.
Mrs Okafor-Yarwood is a supporter of the Enough Food for Everyone 'IF' campaign, a coalition of more than 100 organisations working together to try to make positive changes to the way people receive food in countries around the world. Current estimates claim some two million children die from starvation around the world each year.
Ife has asked Stone MP Bill Cash to write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor George Osborne to renew their promises to the developing world.Ife said: "First of all the fact that I am African inspired me to take up this cause.
"Also, I volunteer at Oxfam, and they campaign against such issues as land-grabbing and UK companies not paying taxes they owe to developing companies.
"Simply put, there is no need for people to have to donate money for food aid. If this land wasn't being taken from the poor to help fuel developed countries, starvation wouldn't be a concern. Rather than donating, we should try to make sure that the Africans affected keep their land so they can become self-sufficient. It's a much better solution."
Ife admits going to meet Bill Cash to ask him to write to the Government left her a little daunted.
And she was worried that her protests might fall on deaf ears.
However, the Conservative MP, who has worked on many campaigns in Africa – was extremely receptive to her concerns.
"I was surprised by what Bill Cash was like. I'm not Conservative, and although I read about him extensively I didn't know how to approach him," Ife said.
"I thought he might've been dismissive, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. He was very open and receptive. I know he's been active in African issues before – he campaigned passionately against HIV in the continent in the 1980s at the height of the AIDS epidemic – and he seemed to care a lot about this."
Growing up in Nigeria, Ife has witnessed at first hand the inequalities plaguing the African continent.
While she is reluctant to go into details of the trauma she has seen, she confirms it was this background which led her towards her charity work.
She is also studying for a masters degree in international relations at Kings College in London, dividing her time between North Staffordshire and the capital.
"I used to live in Nigeria until 2007 and I've seen this first hand. It's an injustice that's happening all over. 10,000 people lost their land in Ethiopia last year.
"I didn't want to do nothing while millions of people go hungry. That's why I got involved in the IF campaign.
"George Osborne's Budget will contain decisions about how our country's money is spent, and it can help lay the foundations for a world free from hunger.
"I'm happy I've had my say on how the budget should be used to transform lives and build a better future, and I would encourage others to do the same."
Now Ife is encouraging anybody who shares her beliefs to come forward and join the campaign.
"We will keep on writing about this issue," she said.
"There are a lot of young people out there who are passionate about this issue and we'd love to get them involved.
"The message is that there's plenty of food to go around in this world, and I'm sure that's a sentiment everyone can agree with.
"While I agree that charities should help, if this land-grabbing wasn't happening they wouldn't have to – it doesn't have to be this way."
Max Lawson, a spokesman for the IF campaign, said that although Britain has a great track record of helping the needy, more needs to be done to help get the world's poorest nations back on their feet.
He said: "Our Government should match the generous spirit of the British people and continue the progress already made, saving lives and reducing poverty – we could be the generation to stop hunger."
To get involved in the IF Campaign join them at www.enoughfoodif.org or contact Ife at ifeokafor@gmail.com
Thanks a great deal, for passing this on :-)
ReplyDelete