YEDI targets 4000 young people in Lagos, Ogun, A’Ibom for empowerment

All is now set for the fifth edition of the annual summer holiday camps organised by a non-governmental organization – Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI).

Tagged: “Skillz Holiday Camps”, the youth-focused free event which is generously sponsored by global energy giant, ExxonMobil and M.A.C AIDS Fund, seeks to meaningfully engage 4,000 young people (age 10-19) in disadvantaged communities in Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Ogun states with a slew of fun and educational activities.

According to YEDI’s Programmes Director, Tomisin Adeoye, participants would be provided a safe space to learn healthy habits, important life skills and prevention of endemic diseases like Malaria and HIV, and sexual and reproductive health education, using football, games, and other fun activities in an interactive environment. “They will also be empowered with soft skills for economic empowerment, and lots of fun,” she added.

Mrs. Adeoye stressed the importance of positively engaging young people during the long holiday, a period where youths are most ‘vulnerable’.

“This is a period where youths are most vulnerable; because they have a lot of idle time and are exposed to negative peer pressure that increases their likelihood of engaging in risky activities. Our approach therefore is the introduction of grassroot soccer curriculum which combines football drills, games and other physical activities, with health education curriculum delivery, vital discussions and biomedical interventions, like HIV testing in a safe, fun and interactive environment,” she noted.

She thanked the sponsors and youth volunteers for supporting a programme aimed at making the holiday period a memorable one for every of the targeted participants.

According to her, the camps will run for eight hours per day over five days and participants will experience series of exciting activities that will engage them for the whole day which will be handled by trained volunteers who will serve as coaches.

“Some of the activities include registration, orientation, Physical exercise breakfast, lunch, bed-net demonstration (where they are taught the importance of long lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) and how best to use it); talent hunt and exhibition (where they are all given an opportunity to showcase and hone their skills); Quiz competition; and several other activities,” she explained.