PROJECT REPORT
Name of Organization: Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation.
Project Title/Name: Help 15K Youths in Vocational & Innovative Skills
Focus Country: Nigeria.
Project Locations: Nigeria.
Focus Area: Supporting Youths in increasing skills and resilience,
Connecting them to their power, consciousness and confidence.
Project Type: Direct service, Street based Project
Proponent: Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation
Address Klm 1 Eke-Ahiara Junction, Umuofor Nnarambia
Ahiara, Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria
BRANCH OFFICE: 88 Murtala Muhammed way,
Yaba, Ebute Metta, Lagos.
EMAIL: support@samonyemaechihumanitarian.org
WEBSITE: https://www.samonyemaechihumanitarian.org
Introduction;
Taking on the role of caring and training someone in vocational and innovative skills is a big commitment and something rewarding. Vocational education and training, allows students to gain practical experience in their chosen career path before they even graduate." Students who finish those rigorous programs, have the credentials and training they need to get started right away in their chosen career path. TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) is the education or training process where it involves, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences and acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of economic life and social life, comprises formal (organized programs as part of the school system) and non-formal (organized classes outside the school system) approaches." (UNESCO).
Executive Summary:
Skill development and entrepreneurship are the driving forces of economic growth and social development for any country or state. Countries with higher levels and better standards of skills adapt to the volatile changes in the domestic and international job market. Though need for framework of skills, entrepreneurship and innovation was realized lately, the momentum of its spread is rapid. Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is well supported by agencies like National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), Directorate General of Training (DGT), National Skill Development Fund (NSDF), Indian Institute of Enterprise (IIE).
In 2018, unemployment rate for Nigeria was 22.6 %. Unemployment rate of Nigeria increased from 10.6 % in 2012 to 22.6 % in 2018 growing at an average annual rate of 16.02%. Nigeria’s inability to engage a large proportion of her youth meaningfully through job creation has the potential for social dislocation. The dire unemployment situation many graduates and those with advanced education in the country face is a cause for widespread concern. There is a great need to supplement our educational system in Nigeria with marketable skills and knowledge. Unemployment is on the increase every year. Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation since its inception has been doing her best in the area of vocational and innovative skills, a way of empowering our teaming youths. We provide vocational/Innovative skill training, internship opportunities, mentorship, and access to latest equipment, knowledge, and provision of start-up capital after training by linking up with sponsors. We have been organizing series of seminars on TALENT HUNT. We are working assiduously to have a permanent centre where our youths will be schooled in different vocational department:
Agro-Allied: fish farming, cattle fattening.
Food: Food processing and preservation, catering, cakes, snacks, beverages and drinks.
Culture and tourism: Leader works, exterior decoration, beads arts and design.
Cosmetology: production of cosmetics, soaps, detergent and household products, hair styling, laundry services.
ICT: hardware, software. Programming, repairs.
Construction: Aluminium, ceilings.
Beautification: horticulture, tree planting.
Education: Nursery and primary school, driving school.
Film and Photography: Editing, location manager, photographer, camera, and sound operation.
Engineering trade: Auto electrical, upholstery.
Organizational Background
Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ started in the year 2012, officially registered September 7, 2017. Joined GlobalGiving community May 29, 2021, with a vision to provide an opportunity aimed at, to love and care in action. We create deliberate interventions to support our communities in increasing skill and resiliency, connecting them to their power, consciousness and confidence. Our programs offer tools for vulnerable youths to sustain not only their creativity, but their holistic development and future livelihoods. We cultivate an environment of transformation, solidarity and kinship, a safe space where respect, positive thinking and collaboration is core. In the first 3 months of its operations, ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ did a rapid assessment in the region to discover a dearth of serious, structured interventions with young and aged people in the area. The team from ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ visited more than 20 rural communities and several NGO functionaries operating in the area to learn about the involvement of youth and adult in social initiatives in the area. In these visits, most of the principals, teachers and social workers voiced a need to build leadership among young people on social issues and motivate them to take up social action initiatives. The educators expressed their concerns and difficulties involved in mobilizing young people for social action initiatives.
In the same period, a team from ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ participated in the ‘Change Makers program’ that was conducted jointly by The Nonprofit council with the aim of understanding the current community development initiatives of other NGOs across Nigeria. During this phase the team studied the program design and the community mobilization methods of these NGOs. The team also underwent a one year long mentoring and handholding under this program. In the process, the team also participated in a several learning programs with several NGOs working on community issues from across the nation. In these sessions, the team interacted with more than 12 NGOs and their several community leaders working in different parts of the country.
Equipped with an understanding of local issues and an understanding of the best practices of NGOs from across the country, ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ started conducting basic life skill and active citizenship programs in communities in Southeast. The program was named ‘change for life’. These workshops caught the interest of educators and students alike and they welcomed ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ team to conduct repeat workshops on several issues in 15 communities with around 8,367 in attendant. This program also had an indirect outreach of another 4200 people. ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ also initiated a pilot program named ‘Metamorphosis’ that involved families in community outreach program. This program involved around 10,600 farmers from 15 different communities in the area. In the same period, ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ conducted two parent counseling workshops in two different communities to discuss the issues of their children. This program titled ‘Parenting and grassroots child-care' helped us put forward our standpoints and increased our acceptance with parents who are the prime decision makers for their children
Now in its second year of operation, ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ has started conducting life skill and active citizenship workshops in 10 additional Communities. This program so far had a direct outreach of 2700 families. Parenting and grassroots child-care has been conducted in two new Communities in the year. Currently, ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation is actively working with 23 communities in Southeast working on different issues in different communities. In order to give a push to these projects, 'Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ has identified the need for:
a) Help the vulnerable improve and maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle and to maximize their quality of life.
b) Starting of 2 Resource Centers in southeast to address the needs of farmers
a) Resource Centers for youth to learn vocational skills.
b) Resource and Empowerment Centers for farmers to equip them with skills in farming.
Vision and Goal
Our vision and goal are to foster collaboration among youths and to create a medium where there will be an increasing demand for individuals possessing competencies in problem solving and human relations and for individuals who are capable of relearning jobs/ or adapting to changing jobs.
Core values
Involving people, applying knowledge and making things happen. We take as our Motto “Peace, social justice, diversity, fun and democracy as key values” which guide us.
Organizational Structure
‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ is registered as a Trust with Mr. AKARAONYE Samuel, Engr. Greg Ntiwunka, Mr. Joseph Ehioma and Ms. James Rosita Nkeiruka as the Board of Trustees. The ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ Team is currently led by Chief Augustine Anyanwu and comprises of Mr. Dominic Anyanwu, Ms. Agnes Bassey, Mr. Ezekiel Uche, Ms. Anthonia Chuke etc.
Aims and Objectives
The overriding objective of the project aimed at the empowerment of youth, through imparting them technical skills and encouraging their self-economical reliability. To empower youth through income generating skills and entrepreneurship. Promote the youth to and full participation, on the basis of equality with youth in economic opportunity and education. To develop and disseminate strategies that can be used in analysing the local situation and developing innovative skills at the local level.
Target Beneficiaries:
The project was implemented in Lagos and Imo State. Some youths from each state in all the 36 states in Nigeria where all represented. The beneficiaries are youths aged 18-35 years majorly, and between 35-40 years sparingly. Seminars and paper presentation on different vocational skills were taught ranging from, Agro-Allied: fish farming, cattle fattening. Food: Food processing and preservation, catering, cakes, snacks, beverages and drinks. Culture and tourism: Leader works, exterior decoration, beads arts and design. Cosmetology: production of cosmetics, soaps, detergent and household products, hair styling, laundry services. ICT: hardware, software. Programming, repairs. Within the period of talent hunt, many youths discovered his/her talent and were able to embark on it.
The impact of the underlying project on the target population.
Certain vocational skills acquired from vocational education teach youths the importance of manual work. The physical labour done under certain jobs makes them strong, healthy, active. Majority of vocational skills are applicable all over the world and these create employment opportunities in foreign countries which most of them who were able to learn have started their own jobs and become the CEO of their jobs. Vocational education develops the economy by the bridging the demand and supply gap with highly skilled workers. It also gives youths the opportunity to take marketable skills from the classroom directly into the working world. Better vocational education also attracts foreign investment and foreign exchange in form of a foreign working platform. School dropouts and adults can also receive this type of education as it provides an opportunity to learn a skill and trade. There are many well-paid career fields in which a college degree not required. Another impact is that hands-on work activities allow direct application of acquired knowledge. This education provides stable jobs as these are the jobs whose demand is never fulfilled.
*Project Details
INCOME
S/N DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
1 Donation received through GlobalGiving $18.00
2 In-kind contribution $350.14
Sales from processed and packaged food products $185.34
3 Lesson Computers (LITTC) $150.57
4 Anonymous donation in support of the program $200.00
Grand total $904.05
Income= $904.05
EXPENSES
S/N ITEM QTY RATE AMOUNT
1 Seminar materials 100 $2.5 $250
2 Facilitators 3 $100 $300
3 Volunteer/Staff appreciation 6 $50 $300
5 Communication and telephone bills ---- $55.25 $55.25
6 Graphic Artist 1 $50 $50
Grand Total $955.25
Grand total of expenditures= $955.25
Balance= $-51.2
Difficulties and Challenges
One of the challenges also that hinders our progress and drawing us backward in realising our project goal is lack of capital and sponsorship. We call on all to support us in the fourth coming little by little fundraising campaign coming up in April 4th through 8th.
Sustainability of the Project
The ability of our organization as a whole to survive and to meet our mission goal, we embark on an entrepreneurial venture, as a way of raising money for community, financial and organizational sustainability. The foundation runs a food production, processing and packaging factory. We have been partnering with a company in processing our food items for sales. We are working hard to build our own factory for our organizational sustainability, and to help youth that have vocational skill to acquaint themselves with entrepreneurial skills to be resourceful and useful to themselves and society at large. The procurement of the necessary equipment for production, processing and packaging of organic raw materials(food) and construction of a multi-purpose hall that will accommodate our factory and other activities is our priority, we can achieve this through external sources like grants and long-term funding or through internal sources like income-generating activities or membership fees. And to actualize our mission and goal, we have these points as our guiding principles: Collaborative leadership, member-driven decisions, effective communication, change-ready and adaptive workforce continuous improvement, on-going evaluation and measurement, sound financial infrastructure.
Annexes
Annexed below is a sample of this section that has been drawn from the project report of ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ – a non-profit organization that works with young adolescents, youths and adult in rural Communities.
*Overview of the Program:
We at ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ very much value exposure, interaction and peer learning processes. Our recent interactions with more than 20 Communities have reinforced this belief. We are now looking out for support to create 2 youth resource and Empowerment centers in southeast, Nigeria where young, adult etc. can come together, co-create learning experiences and contribute positively to the community development. We plan to utilize these resource Empowerment centers as spaces for involving the youth and adult in “self-development” and ‘social action’ projects of various kind. 'Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ has the required experience and expertise to design and run social action campaigns. We feel campaigns are great opportunities to demonstrate leadership skills, highlight social issues, develop deeper understanding about issues and mobilize young people. Campaigns give energy and take care of youth and adult needs such as fun, interaction, novelty etc. We want to organize a campaign each year highlighting youth action.
What we have achieved so far?
‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ is now an accepted name in more than 35 Communities. Our volunteers are personally known to tens of thousands of families in southeast. As a part of self-development initiative, we have conducted workshops in more than 25 Communities in the last 3 years with a direct outreach of approximately 4000 people in the last 3 years. We have so far organized one major campaign in nearby villages where they went and identified families who were not buoyant enough to Carter for their family’s needs.
Since the beginning ‘Sam Onyemaechi Humanitarian Foundation’ has been running out several programs in Communities promoting spirit of volunteerism and celebrating youth led social action. We have organized a major social action project titled ‘Change for life’ in 10 large Communities with an approximate outreach of around 23000 peoples. This project involved collecting and donating used and unused clothes blankets, shoes, food items to the needy.
What we propose?
We aimed to make more impact, circulate more information into the community and expand activities and events to support disadvantaged youths. This will depend on obtaining funding and other forms of support as any costs currently incurred to run events are out of pocket expenses. Additionally, they are actively engaging with more community centers, the local council and NGOs to support the SOHF and its expanding activities.
Awareness Campaign:
We will design and run campaigns involving adolescents’ young people and adult from rural and urban areas every year starting with the end of year 1. This will help to consolidate their learnings and create awareness about social issues.
Conclusion
Given the increased risk of unemployment ravaging the country, there is greater need for Vocational education and training, it allows youths to gain practical experience in their chosen career path before they even graduate. Youths who finish those rigorous programs, have the credentials and training they need to get started right away in their chosen career path.