Fresh Life Remembers Founder With Candlelight Procession

Exactly one month after the fingers of God touched her and she slept, the organisation she founded, Fresh Life Care Foundation (FLCF) held a candle light procession at the Abuja Jabi Lake Garden on April 21, 2018 to recall the memory of Barrister Dorcas Osazee Ogiamien who never took a nay for an answer. SIMON REEF MUSA attended the event and reports on the highlights of an event that left many eyes teary over the indelible footprints of an inspiring life

It was the coming together of like-minds who share in the dream of what she lived for. Those who had also met her on social media platforms were not left out, including friends and members of her church, the Bible Believers’ Assembly. While she lived, Mrs Dorcas Osazee Ogiamien, popularly known as Dee, was a quintessence of a dream where all, irrespective of class, religion, sex, shall be free from all forms of discrimination. Early in life, she had her vision cut out, with an unquenchable zeal of fighting discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS, among several of her dreams. Beyond this, she was also interested in becoming an anvil against domestic violence and all forms of injustice that denigrate and degrade humanity.
On February 14, 2008, she founded the Fresh Life Care Foundation (FLCF) that would later turn out to be a fiery machine committed to fighting discrimination and stigmatisation against HIV/AID sufferers. As a lawyer, she knew the books and discovered early that the problems of getting justice was not the absence of relevant laws, but absence of relevant law officers to guide and mobilise victims to confront the jungle of ignorance.
Not wanting to be caught up in tackling all forms of injustice on all fronts, she zeroed her efforts on fighting stigmatisation of sufferers of HIV/AIDS and victims of domestic violence and issues bordering on the rights of women and the girl child. Hinging her advocacy programme on the FLCF platform, she inspired others to join her in the struggle. On her platform, she carried out advocacy programmes and appeared on several media platforms to highlight the dangers of stigmatisation and the need to protect defenceless women and children.
As if possessing the knowledge that she would not live into old age, she put her hands in the plough in a bid to touch many lives. With an unprecedented energy, Dorcas walked several other members of her team to buy into her dream. Not someone to be demoralized by lack of funds, she personally rallied funds to undertake several programme of her organisation through the years and would later attract the attention of some organisations to partner with FLCF in providing hope to those caught down in the cave of discrimination.
One of the officials of a group working for people living with HIV/AIDS recalls working with her on one of her advocacy programmes. According to him, “She called me and later came to see me. I tried to dismiss her by telling her that if she disturbed me, I may join her for the programme. That was my mistake. She bombarded me with calls and visited my office many times until I agreed to join in the programme. After some days of working with her, I sought to find out who were her sponsors.
“She said, ‘We. You and I’. I was shocked. It was amazing to see someone bringing personal conviction and vision on a programme she never had sponsors. With Dorcas, there was nothing like impossibility. She was a determined soul who broke through the glass ceiling to turn the tables against forces engaged in stigmatizing people living with HIV/AIDS, among others.”
Her death at the age of 31 was somehow of a black day for those who have worked and walked with her in her earthly journey. A radio producer who turned up at the candlelight procession recalls her brilliance and illuminating presentation when she appeared on his radio programme on issues of women and children, adding, “She spoke eloquently with the mind of a scholar and left many of my colleagues and listeners dumbfounded by her level of intelligence. Her death came to me as a blow.”
A lady, who works in an international development agency, flew in from Uganda to attend the procession. She recalls the unconquerable spirit of the FLCF founder who was then reaching out to her to get partnership over one of FLCF programme: “Dorcas was never tired of knocking on doors for assistance and partnership. There was this fighting spirit about her that places her different from the others. She was someone you could never say ‘no’ due to her persistence and tenacity of purpose. I pray God Almighty rest her soul and flourish the works of what she started.”
A member of FLCF remembers her forgiving spirit and her disposition to always turn a new page and move on with life. There were clouds for discouragement, but Dorcas “was always looking at the bright side of life. She looked beyond the clouds of problems and saw the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how long. She was a jolly good fellow who will always be remembered.”
A member of FLCF has this to say in memory of their founder, “If tears could bring you back, those which rained from the eyes of Martha and Peace, were more than enough. Members of Fresh Life Care Foundation would have contributed pints of tears to offer for your return. Your beloved family and friends have cried out their eyes. And I too. But no! Tears couldn’t help. We take solace in the good life you lived within the short period of your stay on earth, Dee your life was lived sacrificially for others; a life which held nothing to self but all things for others.”
Shortly, before the candlelight procession, her sister, Peace Philips, provided a glimpse into the early life of the FLCF founder whom she describes as the defender of the oppressed and someone you can always trust to rise against bullies at schools. According to her, “Her life was sacrificial as she was always willing to share with others. She hated injustice and tried in her little way to stand up against all forms of injustice that came her way and others that looked up to her.
“As members of the FLCF, we will not allow this dream to fizzle out. We will continue with the dream as a memorial to the life and times of a worthy sister who gave her best shot at what she believed in.”
Special songs, poems were recited in honour of the FLCF founder, just as members braved the windy evening to embark on the candlelight procession. As someone remarked, “May these candles represent the determination of all present to continue identifying with the noble task of standing up with the vision of what Dorcas stood for.”
April 21, 2018 was indeed a day for remembrance on the good works of a determined life that lightened the burden of many silent hearts suffering from discrimination and stigmatisation, including providing a strong voice for women and children against their traducers.