March 2016
Still in the spirit of celebrating – the International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day and other campaigns for women – we would like to celebrate our Great African for the month of March – Ndifreke Andrew-Essien.
Ndifreke Andrew-Essien (born August 26th) is the Executive Director and founder of Freky Andrew-Essien Care Foundation well known as FAECARE Foundation, a Non Profit Charity Organization that adds value to the lives of vulnerable groups: Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Persons With Disabilities, Youths, and less privileged in society. She has worked and volunteered with International and local NGOs and has had a stint as a presenter of her own program on radio and television. A Motivational speaker and a Music minister with a passion for God and life.
Freky as she is fondly called has a heart of gold and is an inspiration to many, because she defied the odds in her life and is making something purposeful out of it. In 2002, she was involved in a major accident which resulted in Spinal Cord Injury and paraplegia and the use of a wheel chair. She returned to school – against all odds to earn a Bachelors degree in Physiology from the University of Port Harcourt in 2008, and an MSc in 2014.
Some Services and Honors
Below are some services and honors of Freky Andy:
- Served on several committees and associations while in the University till date;
- Volunteers with Local and international NGOs working in communities, with OVCs, PLAs, in-school youths 2001-till date;
- Has since been a motivational and inspirational speaker at various youth gatherings and in-school youths with a myriad of messages. One of the core ones being “my story” , “No Excuse”, “Values”, “Make it out”, etc;
- Organized and hosted various empowerment seminars for youths;
- A peer educator/trainer;
- Registered and inaugurated a Non- Profit Charity Organization; Freky Andrew-Essien Care Foundation (FAECARE Foundation), with focus on OVCs, Youths, PWDs and less privilege in society;
- Hostess of PURPLE “Children’s Charity Concert” 2013-date;
- A Mandela Washington Fellow 2014 (President Barack Obama’s Flagship and Inaugural Young African Leaders Initiative);
- A disability advocate.
Freky represents the strength and resilience of an African. She is passionate and committed to affecting her community in every way she can.
In her Words
My goal is to live legacy and affect generation(s), by adding a little extra (passion, focus, creativity) to the ordinary to make it extra ordinary.
You could connect with Freky on Twitter @FrekyAndy or visit http://www.faecarefoundation.org to learn about her work.
African Youth Corner 