By Oje Ivagba | Director of Programmes
Between 2013 and 2014, LEAP equipped 193 trainers in five states; Anambra, Lagos, Edo, Ogun and Taraba States to deliver the leadership modules of the YDTP to young Nigerians. The trainers comprise of counselors or teachers in private and public secondary schools, faith based and community based organizations with a common interest in youth development in Nigeria. Given the structure of the YDTP, trainers are empowered with life, leadership and facilitation skills before they train youth beneficiaries on the YDTP curriculum.
Read some of the feedback from our trainers:
Held once weekly over a minimum of three months in schools, sessions (which includes project management, self- awareness, communication, time management, teamwork, principles of leadership) are conducted in classrooms where students learn how to discover and maximize their potential, lead and get involved in social development. LEAP provides instructional materials, student manuals and conducts visits to schools for effective delivery and programme monitoring. So far, the impact has been remarkable – 1,422 young people have been exposed to this training.
Among the first crop of trainees is Ada, a second year senior student in Iganmu Secondary School, Orile Lagos who says of the programme- ‘I understand that leaders solve problems and people are not necessarily born into leadership roles. I have applied the training to improve myself and to benefit others through my actions in my school and community. Now I am more ambitious, confident, and financially responsible’. The students are encouraged to be more self- aware and to work in groups to implement social change projects which addresses a problem in their local communities to test and demostrate their new skills. For Ada and her classmates in school, their social change project was aimed at creating healthy school atmosphere by observing the school’s designated environmental days to clean rest rooms and maintain an eco-friendly environment.
Other change projects from the YDTP programme are : the construction of a modern waste disposal system within Igbobi Junior High School, clearing environmental waste and building waste facility in Lagos City Senior College and donation of food items to a crowded and underfunded orphanage in Osun State.
Despite inspiring feedback and stories from our trainers and trainees, LEAP is still far from reaching its goal to train 10,200 students within two years.
In August 2014, LEAP is hosting workshops for about 150 additional trainers in three states- Akwa Ibom, Edo and Abuja while current trainers will continue to receive support to cascade their trainings.
We need your support to equip young people like Ada with essential life and leadership skills, please donate to this project.
Are you working on similar projects or have ideas for this programme, please get in touch with us at www.leapafrica.org or info@leapafrica.org.
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