Youth Development Training Programme (YDTP)

Setting up a mini clinic seems like a daunting task to embark on for any adult let alone a group of young people, yet the S.S.1 students of Army Children Senior High School, Military Cantonment, Ikeja did just that. Army children school is located in a complex that houses four schools which serve over 3,200 students, yet there was no access to healthcare of any kind. Thus, the YDTP students of Army Children School saw what others would simply deem a problem as an opportunity to make a difference.

The YDTP programme which took place at Army Children’s School over a period of one school year introduced the participating students to the concept of leadership. Over the course of 33 weeks, these fine crop of young people were taken on a journey that changed their mindsets about leadership, enabling them to see that youth are the leaders of today and they embody the ideas and solutions that can transform their communities and nation.

The lessons learnt birthed a desire to change the status quo and set up a clinic to provide basic health amenities to the 3,200 students and teachers within their school complex. Having learnt that leaders do not do all the work themselves, the students developed strategic partnerships with the local government, community chiefs and other key stakeholders to provide the necessary inputs for the mini clinic and ensure that the project was approved.

With an initial take off grant of N30, 000 ($95), determination and a lot of hard work, their dream of a mini-clinic was realized and commissioned on Thursday July 28, 2016 11:00am. The mini-clinic which contains 1 bed, a separate consultation chamber, drugs, complete first aid materials and basic doctor’s diagnosis equipment will serve as an emergency health unit on minor health issues.

For us at LEAP, these students exemplify how young people can lead in a variety of ways.

Donate today to the YDTP programme to give teens an opportunity to acquire the skills and tools to take charge of their success and look beyond themselves to what they can do for their communities.