Empowering Communities Through Youth-Led Advocacy

Dear Leadership Initiatives Donor,

This year, Taliah, Alanna, Zora, Ella, Alyssa, and Mary Grace, a team of dedicated interns from Team 25318, are working on a Advocacy for Community Infrastructure & Resources advocacy project in Bayara. They have already conducted extensive research and are now developing baseline survey questions to better understand how this issue affects daily life within the community.

Guided by Mohammed Auwal, who is based in our field office in Bauchi, the team is collaborating with community leaders, youth representatives, and women’s groups to ensure that every voice is heard. Their goal is to listen first, learn about the lived experiences, barriers, and hopes of community members before designing any solutions.

The baseline survey that Taliah, Alanna, Zora, Ella, Alyssa, and Mary Grace are creating will serve as the foundation for an evidence-based advocacy campaign. It will gather firsthand information about community knowledge, beliefs, and priorities related to their topic, helping identify where awareness is strong and where gaps remain. This allows Leadership Initiatives to design advocacy efforts that are relevant, measurable, and rooted in local perspectives rather than outside assumptions.

For many residents of Bayara, this is the first time their opinions have been formally recorded or their challenges discussed in a structured way. These surveys provide an opportunity to speak openly about issues that affect their rights, safety, and future, from access to education and healthcare to equality and governance. By sharing their experiences, community members are not just participants; they become leaders in shaping local progress.

Once the survey is complete, the team will collaborate with Mohammed Auwal and local stakeholders to review results, translate them into actionable insights, and design a community workshop to raise awareness and propose concrete solutions. The findings will also inform radio campaigns, posters, and educational materials created in both Hausa and English to ensure accessibility for all.

Your support makes this essential work possible. Donations cover survey translation and printing, training for local youth enumerators, transportation to remote areas, workshop supplies, and materials for awareness campaigns. Most importantly, your generosity amplifies local voices, ensuring that the people of Bayara can advocate for the changes they most want to see in their lives and communities.