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ALONG WAY FORM THE BEGINNING!
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

It’s like a dream! I am trying to get used to the fact that Close the Gap Nigeria project is coming to an end. I have been through a lot of learning and my experiences are countless. I have worked with countless people, some of them I have never met. I must confess it has been an interesting experience being part of a team of young people change the world locally. Beneficiaries of this project are grateful-it shows allover their happy faces when its time for the weekly club meetings. State coordinators have discovered hidden potentials within them, they have found passion and pleasure in impacting knowledge on a generation very close to their’s.

The doors of opportunities have been wide for us; different state sites are gaining the recognition of big actors in the area of youth reproductive health and HIV&AIDS. Many more organizations have seen that it is possible to work in rural areas and make impact; Close the Gap Nigeria Project model is being adopted by many of them.
I must tell you, young people in this project have proved themselves worthy of trust, commitment, leadership, innovation and creativity.

I want to state very emphatically that this is the first of its kind in Nigeria, there has not been any Close the Gap Nigeria project ever. For the respect of GYCA Nigeria team that met on the 22nd of May 2008 to draft this idea and the zealous state coordinators who have worked relentlessly, I want to appeal that every organization or individual wanting to adopt this model acknowledges the work of this group. It will be unfair if this team is not appreciated.

Close the Gap Nigeria is being implemented in 12 states in Nigeria (a community each) and has touched the life of 210young people as at the last count in February. We have enjoyed adult partnerships in this project and the different clubs will be handed over to partner organization at the end of the project for sustainability. Young people are working!

March 16, 2009 | 2:04 PM Comments  0 comments



The Gaps are Wide,but am sure they are closing up!
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I want to start by saying Happy New year to all GYCA members.Most of us on the Close the Gap team did not get to celebrate the xmas at home because we where on the field.I want to inform the GYCA community that Glose the Gap Nigria has commenced in full force with Twelve(12) anti-HIV/AIDS clubs formed in Twelve(12) states of the federation(Nigeria)

Oranizations based in these communities have been very supportive and our state cordinators are very much active and committed to the project.For instance,the Akwa Ibom(one of the Niger Delta State)State Cordinator,Uyime Abasi Ben,was able to work out a strategic partnership with the state ministry of health which is key to resource mobilization and will give more visibility.In Delta State,the cordinator has been able to mobilize key community leaders in his area and have also created a blog to showcase his activities-www.gycadelta.blogspot.com

It may also interest you to know that Leap Afica(www.leapafrica.org),one of Afrca's leading youth empowerment organization,has voluntarily committed to support the project.

So far so good,we are closing the gap.Progress is being made.However,we still need more support form GYCA members in project locations accross selected states.

January 16, 2009 | 12:20 PM Comments  0 comments



Close the Gap NIgeria
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

A country that has only 30% of her population living in urban areas and the other 70% in rural areas; Nigeria needs a program that will close the gap between urban and rural residents. In Nigeria, HIV prevalence is categorized as generalized with a 3.9% prevalence rate among adults (15-49.) With a population of 144.4 million comprised of over 373 ethnic groups, the response to HIV has varied throughout the 36 federal states and capital territory.
Lack of sexual health information and services places these young people at risk for pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted, infections (STI), and HIV. According to UNAIDS (2006), 2,900,000 youth ages 10-24 are living with HIV in Nigeria (2008 National Youth Shadow report, Nigeria).
Major programmes and basic information on health related issues are published in the big cities, forgetting the rural people. This has resulted in the under-development, exploitation, poverty and ignorance that characterize rural dwellers in Nigeria. In the 15 states where this project will be implemented, one rural community has been selected. These communities do not have the presence of any NGO implementing such programs so can be described as marginalized or developmental program-deficient and malnourished.

The aim of this project is to bridge the communication gap between the urban and rural dwellers focusing on young people; to enable them have equal access to basic information on HIV/AIDS, STIs and Reproductive Health. It has been designed as GYCA Nigeria’s change project for 2008.
As the project name implies (Close the Gap Nigeria), there is a wide gap in the accessibility of information between urban and rural areas in Nigeria. Most NGOs, CBOs and even government agencies concentrate on urban areas when carrying out development programs. This has resulted in a break in communication. Young people in rural areas know little or nothing about HIV/AIDS, malaria, STIs and other illnesses; their primary causes, preventive measures and information on treatment. Young people between 10-25years in rural areas are involved in risky sexual and social behaviours which endanger or expose them to these infections. This project is designed to provide adequate and understandable information on these diseases by organizing group discussion sessions amongst young people and community drama in the community. They will be sensitized on developmental issues that will result in a change in behaviour and attitude. These group sessions will take the form of an open community forum in one community in 15 states (Sokoto, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Abuja, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Kano, Ekiti, Ondo, Nassarawa and Plateau) of Nigeria.
Each state already has a coordinator, who will take charge of the implementation of the projects in their respective locations.

Objectives
- To provide accurate and important information on HIV/AIDS, STIs, Malaria and other health issues on a weekly basis.
- To start a club for peer education and group discussion.
- To get 375 young persons between 10-25years actively involved in the club’s activities; 25 in each of the communities.
- To create attitudinal and behaviour change amongst club members which will be monitored using parent/guardian interviews, individual story and reduction in participation of club members in risky sexual behaviour.



November 13, 2008 | 11:05 AM Comments  0 comments

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Young Girls Being empowered
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

STATE: Delta State


DATE: January-April 2008 DURATION: 4months (weekly meetings)

ORGANIZERS NAME: Isikwenu Oghenefego

PHONE NUMBER: 08064925906 EMAIL: figobud@yahoo.com

FACILITATOR(S) NAME: Uche Okwulobia

GSM: 08030919704 EMAIL: ucprof2@yahoo.com

FACILITATOR(S) NAME: Ogaga Maxwell

GSM: 08034810869 EMAIL: d2dy@yahoo.com

FACILITATOR(S) NAME: Ogene Timothy

GSM: 08067998880 EMAIL: timmybrowni@yahoo.com

EVENT LOCATION: Asaba Girls Grammar School, Asaba, Delta State

TOTAL NO OF PARTICIPANTS PRESENT: 30 participants

TOTAL NO: 30 MALE: Nil FEMALE: 30


SESSION(S)/TOPIC(S) COVERED:

Session One:
- Life building Skills (Negotiation, communication, values clarification, refusal, goal setting, decision making, assertiveness and time management skills)
- Leadership Development

Session Two:
Information and Communication Technology skill building

THE ISSUES IN THE TOPIC COVERED
In session one, I concentrated on helping the female students discover themselves, build their confidence and necessary skills for a successful life as teenagers. As shown above, the skills acquired are very important especially as girls so they could overcome the hazards of adolescence. During the leadership development part of this project, participants were trained on qualities of an effective leader, leadership for development and participation of women in democracy.

Session two concentrated on equipping these girls with ICT skills to place them at advantage in contemporary times. They went through basic computer classes after which they had practical classes on the computer and internet. They were taught how to use Microsoft word, excel and coral draw. While during the internet classes, they were taught how to open and use an email address. All participants joined the TIG group during the training.

OUTCOMES FROM GROUP WORK/PARTICIPANTS FEEDBACK ON THE TOPIC(S):

The first session was a very interesting part for the girls because it had a lot of home work, role plays and exercises. It was a real learning opportunity for them, especially the class on values clarification. For the leadership class, the girls were able to identify problems in their school and discuss possible ways of solving them. There was an election after our classes on leadership for development and participation in democracy; to practically demonstrate a truly democratic system; it was an exciting experience for the girls.
Most of them now belong to different clubs and are holding key positions; about 5 of them are school prefects now.

The second session has had its own challenges since the girls complain of not having money to buy cyber time and most of the time their parents discourage them. A few still use the internet and computers whenever they have an opportunity.


ANY OTHER INTRESTING THING YOU LIKE TO REPORT:

Oh yes! I want to thank THE BRISTISH COUNCIL FOR THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE IT HAS HELPED ME BUILD MY LEADERSHIP, NEGOTIATION AND MOBILIZATION SKILLS. I CAN NOW FUNDRAISE FOR ANY PROJECT; LOOKING OUT FOR RESOURCES WITHIN MY COMMUNITY. The principal of the school was very skeptical when I proposed this project to her, because she felt I was too ambitious. At the end of the 4 months, we had a forum at the school where the participants presented a playlet and their certificates were presented to them. The Principal was very happy and approved that the group should for a club in the school.

Taking IT Global supported the project with materials for the Computer and internet training, certificates, airtime in the cybercafé, transportation for facilitators and refreshment for participants under their Creating Local Connections West Africa (CLCWA) project in Nigeria.
This for me was a big plus. The cybercafé gave us the airtime at very subsidized rates while Oxfam Australia provided some technical support through training on Project management.

Also as a result of the BRITISH COUNCIL YOUTHWORKS project, my organization (Inspiro Communications & Media) has formed clubs in ten schools to replicate this project.

Over 200 persons registered their interest for this project, but I had to select a few for maximum impact, I used an essay competition as the criteria for selection. The topic was “THE WOMAN I WANT TO BE”. This has been typed as a journal titled “OUR DREAM, OUR VOICE” and contains the 12 best essays (my way of doing my Top12).









CHALLENGES FACED AND HOW THEY WERE OVERCOME:

The first challenge I faced was acceptability. The School’s Principal wanted to be sure I was not fake since I was talking about the British counsel and YoungStars yet had no identification from them.
I had to get a letter of support from Oxfam Australia, since I have a relationship with them and then presented my International Passport.

The other thing was getting funds for my computer/internet training. I met the TIG Coordinator for Nigeria and discussed my project with him; somehow they were working on similar issues; so they supported me financially, technically and materially.
It was not also easy running such a long project, where I had to meet with the girls every week, some how I was able to equip them to a stage where they could organize meetings themselves and welcome the facilitator for the day by having and elected exco.

NO OF PICTURES OR VIDEOS ATTACHED WITH REPORT:


A lot of pictures and 1 video without audio (sound)

GENERAL COMMENTS
I will really want to thank the initiators of this programme, it has proven to me that young people can contribute to development with the little resources at their disposal. Some how I believe as I contribute my quota in my community, some other persons do theirs in their communities; if you look through, little here, little there, we are having a global impact.
Lives have been touched, these girls are no more the same, and they have been empowered to be what they want to be.







S/N NAME EMAIL
1 Okocha Gloria glowest@yahoo.com

2 Utomi Jane Jane89utomi@yahoo.com

3 Sunday Blessing Cherishbabe4real@yahoo.com

4 Osita Ijeoma ijeosi@yahoo.com

5 Okolie Nonye coolharnon@yahoo.com

6 Ukwa Lilian Ugochukwu liliangunnes@yahoo.com

7 Uteh Happiness hapigirl@yahoo.com

8 Onowighose Fume fumeono@yahoo.com

9 Sunday Patience pattybabe@yahoo.com

10 Omage Faith lanicares@yahoo.com

11 Oravbiere Ahinomor fdjforreal@yahoo.com

12 Oyegbomwan Precious uyisco@yahoo.com

13 Okafor Calista okaforcalista@yahoo.com

14 Etuwatimi Faith Faith2227@yahoo.com

15 Afugeleya Precious Precibaby4luv@yahoo.com

16 Ejime Florence Florence.ebele@yahoo.com

17 Edeh Ndidi Edehndidi@yahoo.com

18 Uzoka Onyinye ouzoka@yahoo.com

19 Kwentoh Cynthia kwentohcynthia@yahoo.com

20 Oviebu Deborah deborahoviebu@yahoo.com

21 Chukwuemeka Jane Jane4real@yahoo.com

22 Joyce Emeh Staga4real@yahoo.com

23 Eliogu Emmanuella eeliogu@yahoo.com

24 Obiazor Nkem obiazornkem@yahoo.com

25 Uzokwe Chinyere chicovera@yahoo.com

26 Ogbolu Evangelyn ogboluevangelyn@yahoo.com

27 Isikwenu EwomaOghene Done@yahoo.com

28 Azorboh Florence Flozy98@yahoo.com

29 Ngemegwai Jennifer Absent from internet class
30 Osita Tobechukwu Absent from internet class



July 2, 2008 | 12:43 PM Comments  1 comments

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International Youth Conference
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

An International Youth Conference has just been concluded in Abuja Nigeria.This conference held from the 27th- 30th of April, 2008 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja with a theme ' Investing in Young People's Health and Development:Policies and Programs and was organized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. The conference brought together stakeholders from all the continents of the world. Research papers and projects where shared and best practices. Various organizations like the Population Council, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, FHI, UNFPA, World Bank and a host of others where fully represented. There was a large youth representation at the conference with over 200 out of the 565 participants at the conference.

The Abuja Call to Action was presented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Odimeji Bankole.

Details of this conference can be gotten from the blogspot http//2008youthconference.blogspot.com
or www.jhsph.edu/gatesinstitute

May 10, 2008 | 4:55 AM Comments  0 comments

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