School A Child Program
As the world youth population continues to increase exponentially, there are evidences showing from global population statistics that four out of five young people are living in developing countries such as Nigeria that has a large youthful population.
The UN, for statistical consistency across regions, defines ‘youth’, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years, without prejudice to other definitions. The National Youth Policy of Nigeria defines Youth as a Nigerian citizen between the ages of 15 – 35 years. The population of youths (15 – 35 years) in Nigeria is estimated to be 64 million of which adolescent and young people (AYP) within 15 and 24 years accounts for about 52% (33 million).
Young people are at the epicenter of diverse developmental challenges confronting humanity. One of the keys to addressing such challenges is Education, which has become a leading global development priority and one of the building blocks towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
It becomes imperative to note that education is central to development and to the improvement of the lives of young people globally, same ritual with Nigeria, the giant of Africa, but still developing among other sub-Saharan Africa nations. Education is therefore important in eradicating poverty and hunger and in promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development.
Over the years, vulnerable youths in Nigeria with promising ambitions have been either struggling and investing in their education, in the majority are those with little or no support; they fear that their hopes and aspiration might become a mere illusion like in a never ending world even as they continue to strive for accomplishment, demonstrating tenacity, resilience and toughness.
Near Help Africa Foundation (NHAF) finds the need to recognize these efforts through her “School a Child” program initiative with the aim to develop innovative approaches to provide educational opportunities to vulnerable adolescents and young people in slum communities in Nigeria regardless of gender, diversity, ethnicity and religion.
The “School A Child” program is a scholarship fund dedicated to increasing access to quality education, strategic training and skill development to help vulnerable young people grow and thrive to achieve their ambitions.
Problem Statement
Nigeria is one of the top ten countries in the world with a very high level of “Share of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training)” at 28.13% in the most recent data revealed in 2019. With youth unemployment and underemployment at persistently high levels, and with many young working poor lacking even primary-level education, such youth unemployment and underemployment rates act to jeopardize social inclusion, cohesion, and stability. Despite the significant efforts made by governments and the international community, young people continue to be amongst the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups in Nigeria.
Cross Cutting Issues
Young people who drop out of school early are vulnerable to unemployment, poverty, teen marriage, pregnancy, and partaking in risky behaviours. Despite significant improvements in increasing primary school enrolment in some regions in Nigeria, the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving quality education by 2030 is unlikely to be met. Moreover, such improvements have not necessarily been followed by an equivalent transition to secondary and tertiary education, vocational training, non-formal education or entry into the labour market, especially for girls and young women. The former is due to inadequate funding resources to scale up opportunities for the teaming adolescents and young people within the NEET population.
Justification
Increasing efforts towards education accessibility, quality, and affordability are central to global development efforts. Therefore, innovative approaches to providing an educational support system are key to helping young people escape poverty and unemployment. Furthermore, there is a need to provide young people with appropriate opportunities to consolidate their basic knowledge and competencies and equip them with the relevant skills needed to find a job, set up a business, create new solutions or engage in other productive work for the economic growth and sustainability.
Target Popuation
Adolescents and Youths from vulnerable settings, between the ages of 15 – 29
Goal
To develop innovative and sustainable approaches to reach with educational opportunities 2,000 aspiring and vulnerable young people in slum communities in Nigeria by 2030; regardless of gender, sexual diversity, ethnicity and religion.
Objectives
- To provide scholarship support for bright and aspiring vulnerable young people.
- To increase accessibility of quality and affordable education to vulnerable young people from slum communities.
- To equip vulnerable young people with relevant skills sets and technical competence to help them overcome poverty and unemployment.