I AM A SURVIVOR

As a survivor of Child Abuse, Ijeoma Sorochi believes that children and young people�s access to education, information and health service is fundamental for sustainable development in Nigeria. Ijeoma grew up in a broken home with rough experiences of child abuse and neglect. Born three weeks after her parents broke up in Eastern Nigeria. When her father heard the news of her birth, he showed no interest towards her education.

At different times, she lived with uncles, aunties and people; these periods were filled with lots of child maltreatment during her primary and secondary school education. As a girl at age 10, Ijeoma�s life was already filled with horrifying experiences; nonetheless, she was determined to further her education. She would sleep at 1am and wake up at 4am to do domestic chores before going to school. This earned her constant tardiness at school; her classmates teased her because she lacked personal care. She barely had time to read and study her books or do her homework; denied the joy and happiness many of her peers had during their childhood; and was often perceived as a hopeless child, without a future. Ijeoma conceived several suicide attempts and was constantly faced with an option of dropping out of school. However, after her Secondary education, she searched for a part time job to pay school fees as an undergraduate to obtain a Bachelor of Art (BA) in English Language through a Distance Learning program at the University of Abuja, Nigeria.

 With her decision-making ability, She believed that if she could go to school should gain knowledge and skills access limitless opportunities and reach her potentials in life. At age 17, she started working with Children and Young people especially girls within her community to help them build life skills, she was inspired by her experience to create a platform (Teenz Tym) for young people to express themselves on social issues hampering their positive growth to get required help. She founded Teenz Global Foundation during her final year at the University at Age 20.

This is why you should vote her as the JCI outstanding young person in Nigeria Click link to vote http://toyp.jci.ng/nominees/item/211-sorochi-ijeoma

Send "TOYP SOROCHI" to 33811 (any network)
You can vote from any part of the world using th link, also share with your networks and get friends and family members to vote for her too.#YesWeCan #TeenzGlobal #JCINTOYP2016

Ijeoma Idika-Chima now Ijeoma Sorochi-Okorie is an English Language Professional, an Oracle Database Administration Certified Associate & Professional, a Multiple Award Winning Social Entrepreneur, an International Public Speaker, Trained TV Host, Researcher, Writer, Facilitator, and Counselor.  She has over 5+yrs experience as a Media and Development Specialist with expertise in Program design and Implementation, Work plan Development, Resource mobilization, Capacity building, Strategic Planning, Grants management, Media Productions and Broadcast. Ijeoma has held several positions as a Class Teacher, Church Secretary, School Admin Assistant, Customer Service Rep, Business Development Executive, ICT Application Assistant, Sunday School Children� Coordinator, English Language Tutor, OFI Communication/Admin Assistant, On-Air-Personality, Phonics Facilitator and Projects Coordinator. Currently, serves as the Chairperson of Teenz Global Foundation and Director of Projects.

The graduate of English Language from the University of Abuja is the Founder of Teenz Global Foundation and Co-founder, Open Community Schools & Network. A Global Youth Ambassador by A World at School; a Child Protection Officer by Child Rights Brigade International FCT Chapter; an INEC Youth Ambassador by the Independent National Electoral Commission; a United Nations Online Volunteer; a 2016 Queens Young Leader; a UNSG-GCED Africa Advocate for Global Citizenship Education; a United States Institute of Peace Generation Change Global fellow; a Schusterman Alumnus; an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society; a Member of National Youth Coalition for Education and a Certified Civic Leader by University of Delaware, USA.

President Barrack Obama recognized her as a Young African Leader (YALI) and 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow; She emerged as Africa Region Finalist of the Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development Work 2015 and a Recipient of National Award of Excellence in Youth Civic Participation by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development during the 2015 International Youth Day in Nigeria. Her story was published in the 2015 Commonwealth Young Achievers Book, Voices of Youth blog by UNICEF-Nigeria and also featured on i24News.tv Israel.  As a Youth Development expert, Ijeoma reviewed the report on Situation of Youth in Africa published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; and a Freelance Presenter of Global Opportunities on Global Business showing on African Independent Television (AIT) Network.