Economic and Social Empowerment
of Rural Communities (ESERC)

About Us

Name of Organisation
Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities, ESERC

Organisation's History and Purpose
It all started in 2000, when four professionals – three women and one man, who are empowered by the activities of international agencies, particularly, UNICEF conceived the idea of establishing this organization. In their work with these organizations, they discovered that most of the street children in the cities were children of parents living in the rural areas.

In studying this situation further, they discovered that while more than 70% of urban children continue with their education up to the tertiary level those in the rural areas hardly complete their primary school where they complete, they drop out at the secondary school level. This situation affected the girl-child more, who is handicapped and circumscribed by the various harmful traditional practices against the girl-child and women.

It became obvious to these four that to salvage these children, parents, individuals, the family and the community in the rural areas need education and empowerment to be able to take care of the child while the children themselves need holistic care if they are to become responsible and productive adults in the 21^st century. It was this idea that necessitated the establishment of Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (ESERC).

Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities is a non-governmental not-profit organization established in 1999 and registered with Nigeria Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2006. ESERC is committed to educating, empowering and enabling children develop holistically for future responsibilities and committed to reducing poverty and improve the health of Nigerian citizens and promote respect for ethics and human rights in health care policies and practices especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups such as People Living with HIV/AIDS, Key and Affected Populations (KPs), Vulnerable Children (VC), Women, Out of School Youths and persons in hard to reach Communities.

ESERC exist to work towards the best interest of the child, to help the child have a good start in life. A good start encompasses adequate nutrition, health care, a hygienic environment, loving care, stimulation and education.

Goal
The Holistic Child

Vision
A society where children develop holistically free from neglect, abuse, ignorance, illiteracy and poverty as they grow; and a society where extreme poverty is eradicated and quality health care services is available, affordable and accessible to all citizens irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, age and status or disease condition, where all women and girls are free from social exclusion, violence and harmful practices.

Mission
To work with different partners and stakeholders to reduce poverty and improve the health of Nigerian citizens and promote respect for ethics and human rights in health care policies and practices especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups such as People Living with HIV/AIDS, Key and Affected Populations (KPs), Vulnerable Children (VC), Women/girls, Out of School Youths and people in hard to reach areas and to educate, empower and enable the child for a responsible, reproductive and productive adult life.

Values:
Commitment
Honesty
Accountability
Passion
Transparency
Team Work

Objective
To promote individual and community participation in the design and implementation of effective strategies for the well-being and protection of children, the girl-child, youth, women, family and the community.

To build the skills of individuals, the family and the community to be able to realize their political, civil and socio-economic rights for themselves and for their children

Status of Organisation
ESERC is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and with Abia, Enugu and Imo States Governments

Decision Making Structure
A democratic spirit pervades the decision-making structures and methods of operation of ESERC. The Board of Directors operates strictly on democratic principles. Beneficiaries of ESERC projects are indirectly involved in making decisions that determine the focus and the nature of ESERC projects/ activities.