Relating with less privileged children and orphans calls for genuine compassion and respect. Beyond material assistance. They need love, affirmation, and listening ears that make them feel valued and dignified. Simple gestures of kindness, mentorship, and prayers can plant seeds of confidence in their hearts. By building relationships rooted in empathy and faith, we reflect God’s love and restore their sense of belonging in society and the Church. BETTY AMUKPO sought the views of some teens on how they relate to the less privileged and orphans. They responded thus:
‘Showing love and kindness to them’
I relate with the less privileged children and orphans, showing love and kindness to them by sharing my food, toys, and clothes. The Bible states: “Defend the weak and the fatherless” (Psalm 82:3), “Whoever is kind to the needy honours God” (Proverbs 14:31), and “Religion that is pure… is to visit orphans” (James 1:27). Also I pray with them and show them love because Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as yourself ” (Mark 12:31). I want them to feel happy and know that God loves them too.”
• Ogoke Chimamanda Anthonia
‘Through empathy, love, kindness, and support’
I relate with the less privileged children and orphans through empathy, love, kindness, and support. The Bible affirms, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3). Also, “Religion that God our Father accepts… is to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). Give generously: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord” (Proverbs 19:17). Show compassion, just as Christ showed us love.
• Sobayo Bukola
‘I make sure my parents assist in the little way they can’
First, orphans symbolise the epitome of lose, defenselessness and the unraveling of society. Psalm 68:5 states that “God is the father of the fatherless and protector of widows.” As a Christian, I relate with the less privilege and orphans, sharing what I have with them, making sure my parents assist in the little way they can, praying for them and encouraging them that one day, they will forget all their pains and sorrows. According to James 1:27; it states that the religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is the one that looks after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world. God asks us to defend, care for, and act on behalf of orphans.
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘I share my time, gifts, and prayers with them’
As a Pilgrim of Hope, I treat less privileged children and orphans with love, care, and kindness. I share my time, gifts, and prayers with them, knowing we are all God’s children. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40.
• Blossom Akalezi
‘Treat them with love, respect, and dignity’
Pilgrims of hope relating to less privileged children and orphans requires compassion, empathy, and kindness. Treat them with love, respect, and dignity, just as Jesus taught us to love our neighbours (Mark 12:31). Hear their stories, struggles, and dreams, and offer support and guidance, offer assistance, resources, or services that meet their needs, such as education, food, or shelter. Help them develop skills, confidence, and hope for a brighter future. Intercede for their well-being, and pray with them, acknowledging God’s love and care.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation, and to keep himself unspotted from the world “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'” (Matthew 19:14). By relating to less privileged children and orphans with love, kindness, and compassion, we reflect God’s heart and demonstrate our faith in action.
• Awaki Barnabas
‘I try to understand their challenges and provide assistance’
I connect with underprivileged children and orphans by demonstrating love, kindness, and compassion (Matthew 25:40). I try to understand their challenges and provide assistance, following Jesus’ guidance to support those in need (James 1:27). Every little act of kindness makes a difference!
• Arnold Akalezi
‘I relate to them with empathy, kindness, and genuine care’
Less Privileged children are those who do not enjoy the same advantages or rights as most kids of their age. In building meaningful relationships with less privileged children and orphans, I adopt love empathy, kindness, and genuine care. Circumstances of life made them to be in the situation they find themselves, and as such, they require all the love and affection anyone can offer them. In Psalm 82:3, the Lord instructs us to “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Let’s also remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” In showing love and caring for the less privileged and the orphans, we are invariably doing it to Jesus, who’s always with those suffering and dejected.
• MaryPeace Oche
‘Provide counselling and financial assistance for their needs’
For the orphans and less privileged, if you are a family member or close family friend and can take them in and raise them as your own, that would be perfect. That would provide some continuity for the child(ren). Again, it is wise to be aware of programmes for these children so they can get the services they need, whether it be counseling, financial assistance to provide for their needs, etc. The same would go for the vulnerable children as well, but programmes would include, educational services as well. These services would be dependent on their abilities. If they are older and close to being old enough to be on their own, I would help them find programmes that help them learn how to manage on their own, like money management, and basic life skills so they can be self-sufficient.
Above all else, being a friend and emotionally supportive will go a long way! Psalm 68: 5 states, “A father to the fatherless… is God in His holy habitation!” Caring for the needs of orphans is not merely what He does or what He commands, it is who He is. God is a God of the fatherless. All of the calls, commands, and judgements for the fatherless flow out of the very nature of who He is.
• Bryan Okononfua
‘I have always had connections with my fellow kids in this capacity’
This is a very exciting topic for me to discuss about because I have always had connections with my fellow kids in this capacity, through my Mum’s Foundation. I have on several occasions, whenever I’m around, gone out for outreach to these group of kids with her and that gave me the privilege to interact, play and connect with such children, though I also relate with some at school. These exposures and experiences created a mind of gratitude to God within me.
I used the period of those outings and my relationship with some of them in my school to learn that those children are not different from me, but they are children who need care and love. It made the Missionary Childhood Piggy Bank more meaningful to me and gave me a more understanding to the slogan ‘Children helping Children ‘. One of such visits that left me with a deep reflection was the visit to one Orphanage at Isolo, Lagos.
My Mum during a particular school term grounded me of my provisions when I confessed to her of how I share same with some less privileged school mates who sometimes come back to school with non. We came to terms with ourselves when I queried the motive of her group’s Monthly Food Bank project. She however, encouraged me to relate freely with them, but not to the point of depriving myself of my basic necessities since I’m not within home and would need my provisions for myself too.
• Munachimso Emmanuella Okasi
