Abuja, Nigeria , June 22, 2025
In a heartfelt celebration of community empowerment and rural development, Judith Yop Pam-Tok, founder of the Garlyn Foundation, received the prestigious award for Impactful and Transformational Leadership in Rural Communities from Heal the Youths Foundation, an Abuja-based NGO, during its 20th anniversary celebration held on Saturday.
The award recognizes Judith’s visionary and sustained efforts in transforming the lives of vulnerable groups in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, through a mission rooted in dignity, opportunity, and equity.
“This recognition is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who has walked this journey with us,” Judith shared. “I dedicate this award to all who have supported our cause—especially our committed partners. It is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we choose to build others, particularly indigent people.”
Judith’s mission through the Garlyn Foundation is clear: to discourage rural-urban migration by bringing resources, access, and hope directly to rural areas, providing city-level opportunities in places often forgotten, and encouraging urban-to-rural migration in return. She envisions a future where disadvantaged families enjoy a level playing field through holistic education and economic empowerment.
A Safe Haven for Vulnerable Children
In 2023, Judith launched a preschool and primary school in a family-donated building, formerly their grandfather’s home, given by two uncles and two aunts. The school runs a holistic, child-centered curriculum and currently supports 32 children on full scholarship, entirely funded by Judith’s family and friends.
The beneficiaries include:
- Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
- Orphans
- Indigent children
- Children of parents facing mental health challenges
- Children with special needs or special needs family members, and
- Minor victims of rape.
Before the school’s founding, Judith had supported indigent children in public schools with books, uniforms, and school supplies since 2010, quietly impacting lives long before formal structures were in place.
Empowering Women for a Better Tomorrow
In addition to her work in education, Judith established the Garlyn Foundation Empowerment Centre, which has been operational for nine years, training and empowering 125 women with entrepreneurial skills, resources, and mentorship. This initiative provides a vital platform for economic stability and confidence, particularly for women in rural settings.
Celebrating Purpose-Driven Leadership
The recognition from Heal the Youths Foundation, marking two decades of youth-focused advocacy, highlights Judith’s work as a shining example of grassroots leadership and transformational impact. Her work continues to inspire a growing movement of change-makers redefining what is possible in Nigeria’s rural communities.
For more information about Garlyn Foundation and its ongoing work, please contact garlynfoundation@gmail.com
count | 18
