Challenging Barriers to Sustainable Education for Girls and Boys in Almosho aims at challenging four identified social anomalies that militate against young girls and boys in achieving academic excellence in secondary schools in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. This intervention aims at empowering youths (especially young girls) to secure and/restore their confidence in themselves, create safe spaces for them to learn and grow  mentally; assure them of the right and equality of everyone to participate in prescribed school activities and ensure that they are not inhibited in any way from achieving their academic goals in life. This project uses exciting edutainment to convey the empowering information to students so as to capture their attention and ensure they appreciate the issues discussed/addressed. As part of the sustainability of this project, CAPRIGHT- VP will establish Voice of Freedom student clubs in these schools to ensure that the legacies of the project are sustained after its life. The project is targeting poor community schools in a remote part of Lagos State because CAPRIGHT- VP believes that they have been left behind in development activities.

“I was molested and repeatedly raped by my guardian at almost every lonely moment. Out of fear, I lost the courage to speak, I was demoralised and introverted, but hope was restored through Voices of Freedom Platform.  I’m now very bold to speak out knowing that someone is there to defend me”.  Grace (not her real name), a student rightsholder from the Voices of Freedom platform  

The Centre for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Persons (CAPRIGHTS-VP) is an organisation born out of the passion and concern by Nigerian professionals for the cause of vulnerable people particularly women, children, orphans, people with disabilities, the elderly and the youths (especially those who need guidance in life) in our society. It focuses on education, counselling, legal support, economic empowerment, transformative change etc. for vulnerable groups. 

Molestation and bullying are just but some of the issues that girls like Grace as well as boys in Almosho have to go through as they try to navigate life in school. Many girls also have to stay out of school when they are menstruating.  CAPRIGHT-VP sought to support rightsholders to reclaim their voices.  

Their project, Challenging Barriers to Sustainable Education for Girls and Boys in Almosho aimed at challenging four identified social anomalies that prevent young girls and boys from achieving academic excellence in secondary schools in Alimosho, Lagos State. The project sought to empower the youth, especially young girls in securing and restoring confidence in themselves, creating safe spaces for them to learn and grow mentally, assuring them of the right and equality of everyone to participate in prescribed school activities and ensuring that they are not inhibited in any way from achieving their academic goals in life.  

To ensure sustainability after the project, CAPRIGHT- VP established “Voice of Freedom” student clubs in schools to ensure that the legacies of the project are sustained after its life. The project was implemented in poor community schools in a remote part of Lagos State. Among the key activities carried out by the project was the sensitisation for both teachers and students/pupils in these schools. “The trauma and helplessness of always being out of school during my menses, the fear I face after being bullied by my classmates, the depression that takes over me whenever I was molested, My choice has always been to be free, confident and included in my school environment. The voice of freedom platform brought total freedom into all these my adversities” A student, member of the Voice of Freedom Platform. 

The project was not without its challenges though. “It was almost difficult to curb bullying menace in Distinction Gate Schools until we introduced the secret suggestion box which gave us the platform to reach our pupils personally. At the sight of every student were the CAPRIGHT laws against bullying.  Menstrual pain relief exercises and calculation of menstrual cycle was the light of the day to most of the girls suffering from absenteeism and menstrual pain”, A CAPRIGHT staff member. 

The manual guide that addresses the issues of juvenile delinquencies in secondary schools and another for curbing sexual violence in secondary schools is one of the most significant outcomes of the project. The presence of Lagos State Ministry of education representative during the manual launch was not only great publicity for the project but the representative also shared the manuals in other government secondary schools where the project could not reach. The manual was also posted on CAPRIGHT-VP’s social media pages including, Facebook and Instagram.