"My Journey"

My name is Harriet Chidiebere Okoro (like to be called Chimdirimebere - my God is merciful) from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. I hold a National Diploma in Library & Information Science, M.Sc. in Public Relations; M.Ls (Library & Information Science) and currently pursuing an M.Sc. degree in Development Studies.

I am a seasoned Administrator and have received several awards at the State and National level of the Public Service.

Harriet is an Executive Director of Ruldin-Society for Neglected Women of Nigeria, an NGO working on these thematic areas: Health, Education, Women and Youth Empowerment, Agriculture, Women’s Right Advocacy, HIV/AIDS, OVC.

She has joined World Pulse because she wants the world to hear what women have been able to achieve despite all odds and also some challenges women face daily as they strive to survive. She is honoured to be a part of this great group of catalysts that would change the story of women world over. She salutes all freedom fighters who fearlessly fight the cause of women.

In Africa and Nigeria in particular, many cultural practices tend to frustrate all the efforts being made by NGOs. Most times women are their own problems. When a man dies the wife is expected to to stay in a particular place for one month or more and have her hair shaved with razor (women inflict this on their fellow women) but when a woman dies, the man is up and going about his business as nothing happened.

For me education is the answer to the girl-child problem and consequently the women. I come from Oji RIver Local Government Area of Enugu State. Enugu State is one of the eastern states of Nigeria. Oji River from statistics has the highest prevalent rate of HIV/AIDS due to some cultural practices of the people.

Ruldin-Society for Neglected Women of Nigeria has intervened on integrated Health services in one of the communities in Oji-River and from the statistics we got from that intervention, we also had very high number of young people infected with HIV. Ruldin-Society is planning an intervention in secondary schools in the Local government Area as soon as schools re-open. We plan to educate girls and boys from 10yrs to 18yrs on the mode of transmission of HIV; STIs, hygiene during menstruation etc. Funding has been our challenge.

Currently I am raising N1,500,000 for a woman with a hole in the heart to undergo open heart surgery. She has had this problem from childhood until in March, 2016 when i met her, she has been managing herself with the little income she makes. We are trusting God that by August when the next batch of doctors coming in from USA, she will be operated upon. Let's keep prayer for her.

Harriet was born to speak for the voiceless and i am happy doing just that. \"A liberated woman is one who feels confident in herself, and is happy in what she is doing. She is a person who has a sense of self.... It all comes down to freedom of choice\" - Betty Ford.

Peace to all who respect women!!!

Harriet

My Vision for the Future

\"My will shall shape my future, whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice, my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny.\" - Elaine Maxwell