To build tomorrow, you must start today. There couldn’t be a better place to start than investing in the most important resource: the ‘human mind’ – the minds of young people. The leaders of tomorrow who hold the keys to the sustainability of the human race.
Sahara Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility vehicle of Sahara Group is in partnership with Leap Africa in the quest to secure a brighter tomorrow for Nigeria. The Foundation, in line with its commitment to capacity building, joined forces with LEAP Africa to promote youth development through the – Youth Development Training Programme.
This initiative was designed to empower students to unleash their personal strengths and creativity by learning how to develop their personal goals and objectives. It also seeks to build self- confidence, listening skills, social responsibility, patriotism and time management skills in all participants.
YDTP involves a training cycle which spans over a period of one year; training of trainers (ToT), a youth beneficiary training and ‘change project’ implementation. Sahara Foundation in 2014 trained 10 teachers and 5 support trainers in 2015, to implement the first phase of the cycle.
Tomiwa Adesida, Manager, Sahara Foundation, says through the Youth Development Training Programme, Sahara Foundation has supported over 300 students with the leadership and life skills required to cope with life’s challenges. We believe that this intervention will empower the youth to self-reliance.
Adesida adds that Sahara Foundation remains committed to exploring platforms for promoting entrepreneurship and leadership skills among the youths.
Leap Africa commended Sahara for its support adding that: “Through Sahara Foundation’s funds, in-kind and volunteering support, LEAP has continued to develop the leadership potential in young people by building the capacities of teachers and youth influencers to teach leadership, life skills and ethics.” – Amaris I. Ifedi, Programme Coordinator, LEAP Africa.
Currently the programme is at the change management phase which will involve the students going into the society to become change agents by identifying a need and creating a solution. This phase is being implemented by five schools in Lagos state, Nigeria. The program has empowered and released three hundred students into various communities in Lagos state to go on to begin to identify areas where they can make an impact and change lives of multitudes.
Amongst the 300 students, the students of Unity Senior School Oshodi have since their completion of phase two, partnered with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to improve the health of the people in the Oshodi community. Using a hygiene awareness campaign and the core leadership principles learnt, the students were able to sensitize the community on maintaining very high hygiene to prevent the spread of Lassa Fever, failing health of the people and also improve environmental hygiene.
Chidozie Oluchi, who was a participant at the session, said the lecture on food hygiene and environmental hygiene, taken by Sani Hamza from ME CURE Healthcare Limited, and the NAFDAC officials was very impactful. Thanks to Sahara and LEAP for this programme.
Essiet Victoria a student of the YDT programme said: “I have learnt so much. Now I know how to behave like a leader and also how to maintain personal hygiene, what to eat and so on.”
“The YDTP sponsored by Sahara Foundation has taught me a lot concerning personal hygiene and how to maintain my environment. It also taught me how to take proper care of myself,” added Kashim Rahimat of Bolade Senior Grammar School.
Sahara Foundation is unflinching in its resolve to inspire and facilitate immediate and long-term transformation in the lives of youths and small businesses to ultimately bring energy to lives across the globe!