CHANGE is an 18-month economic and social empowerment intervention that will lift 12 Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) aged 18-30 years out of abject poverty through “vocational training”, “Leadership & Life skills training”, “entrepreneurship & financial literacy training”, and “joint vocational empowerment”. CHANGE believes that if vulnerable AGYWs are mentored and established in enterprises of interest, then they will be financially resilient against gender-based exploitations, abuse and violence they face.
CHANGE will achieve the following main objectives:

• Identify and profile 16 vulnerable AGYWs resident within two FCTs slums (Kubwa and Mpape) in two months: At onset, the project will map Kubwa and Mpape slums to identify 16 poor and vulnerable AGYW, who will be enlisted using a Vulnerability and Need Assessment tools (VNAT). Based on the vocation/business of interest stated by rightsholders, the project will identify eight Master Tradesmen/women who are skilled & successful in such businesses to serve as their trainers and mentors. Demographic and business details of Master Tradesmen/women and beneficiaries will be properly documented.

CHANGE envisions the following change among our rightsholders: (i) vocational knowledge and skills gained (ii) entrepreneurial and business management skills gained (iii) financial literacy gained (iii) social skills in leadership, team playing, time management, self-esteem building & conflict resolution gained, (iv) increased income and savings among empowered rightsholders (v) increased financial independence (vi) reduced vulnerability to financially-instigated gender-based violence (vii) improved self-reliance and actualisation.

INTRODUCTION

In the heart of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory urban slums, where poverty and hardship often breed vulnerability, Novel Association for Youth Advocacy (NAYA) worked to create an enabling environment for improved well-being and empowerment of vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) through her Initiative “Creating Hope Among Nigerian Women and Girls through Economic Enterprise (CHANGE)” by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to reclaim their lives, thrive and build a brighter future.

The project was born out of a deep-seated vision to transform the lives of vulnerable females who had faced the harsh realities of sexual and gender-based violence.

IMPLEMENTATION

The project started with the identification and profiling of 16 vulnerable out -of school Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYWs) residing in Kubwa and Mpape slums of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by NAYA in collaboration with community leaders. However, this task proved challenging, as is typical in slum areas, the day of the interview saw a large turnout of vulnerable women and girls, making it difficult to narrow down and select just 16 individuals. The overwhelming need and desperation in the community underscored the gravity of the situation, highlighting the tough decisions that had to be made to identify those who would benefit most from the program. To address this challenge, NAYA, through a mix of strategies including advocacy, community mobilization, community engagement and mapping, pinpointed these 16 individuals, using a Vulnerability and Need Assessment Tool (VNAT) to ensure those most in need were selected. Based on the vocations and businesses that interested the rightholders, NAYA identified eight skilled and successful Master Tradesmen and women to serve as their trainers and mentors. The demographic and business details of both the Master Tradesmen/women and the AGYW were meticulously documented, setting the stage for a meaningful and impactful mentorship experience.

Furthermore, as part of our capacity-building efforts, the 16 rightholders embarked on a transformative 10-month vocational training program, immersing themselves in hands-on learning and practical skills tailored to their chosen vocations such as cloth making, bag making and hairdressing. To support their journey and ensure their success, NAYA implemented a Mentorship Assessment Plan (MAP) to track each participant’s performance, punctuality, and commitment throughout the training. This tool helped to ensure that every beneficiary remained focused, paving the way for their retention and successful completion of the program. The rightsholders also underwent comprehensive training designed to equip them with essential leadership and life skills, including teamwork, time management, effective communication, self-esteem building, and conflict resolution. In addition, they received in-depth business management training in entrepreneurship and financial literacy, empowering them to transition into socially and economically resilient individuals.

Following completion of the vocational skills acquisition in hairdressing and fashion design, 12 out of 16 rightsholders, who had shown exceptional Commitment and skill, were chosen to take their first steps towards independence. They were awarded more than just start-up kits—they were given the foundation for a new life. NAYA also went a step further to establish three joint business hubs across Mpape and Kubwa, where these 12 young women could bring their talents to life. With all expenses covered for shop rentals.

The rightsholders were relieved of one of the most daunting challenges facing new entrepreneurs in Nigeria: securing a space to operate. The business hubs now stand as vibrant centers of creativity and commerce.

IMPACT AND TRANSFORMATION

NAYA’s CHANGE project profoundly transformed the lives of the vulnerable AGYW from being skillless to becoming skilled artisans. Through vocational skill acquisition, they mastered the arts of cloth making, and hairdressing, turning their aspirations into tangible skills and providing a solid foundation for improved economic livelihood and financial empowerment. NAYA’s capacity-building programs imparted essential skills, including money management, resource mobilization, income generation, saving, leadership and decision making into the rightholders. Interestingly, in a ripple effect, the rightsholders are now paying it forward by mentoring other girls in their community in tailoring and hairdressing.

Additionally, NAYA’s project deepened the rightsholders’ understanding of gender-related issues perpetrated in their communities. This effort empowered them to become change agents in promoting women’s empowerment and addressing gender-related challenges. To ensure the sustainability of their livelihoods, NAYA supported and encouraged the rightholders to establish Village Savings and Loans Scheme (VSLA), securing their path toward continued economic empowerment. Also, the project provided sustainable income to the rightsholders and their families, improved their economic livelihoods and financial empowerment by providing them with start-up kits and rented business hubs. Find below anecdotes and success stories from rightholders and stakeholders:

The Story of Mariam!

Mariam, a 26-year-old widow, resides in Gbazango Village with her two children. While battling an insurgency in Borno’s Sambisa Forest, she lost her young husband. Her life became intolerable a few months after her husband passed away because she was jobless and lacked any skills. Whenever things got out of hand, Mariam and her children will leave home to take refuge at her parents’ house. Mariam eventually secured a job as a cleaner to enable her take care of herself and children, though her income could barely sustain them. Mariam had always wanted to learn a skill and own her own shop. She made several efforts to learn a trade but she couldn’t afford the charges required for enrolment. Then one day, she heard about a local NGO called Novel Association for Youth Advocacy (NAYA) that was enrolling young women for vocational skill acquisition. She attended the interview, qualified and was enrolled to learn a skill in fashion design. Six months into the learning the new skill, she had begun to make dresses for herself and family members. Today, she has successfully graduated and received a sewing machine in addition to an all-expense paid rented shop. Hear her: “I thank NAYA and Voice for giving me chance to be able to take care of myself and my small childrem. I will teach other young women and girls in my area how to sew cloth and save money”.

1. “I dey happy with de tailor work wey I sabi so. I don dey even get small money from the cloth wey I dey make for people to take care of myself and my pikin. I thank NAYA, Voice and my madam wey dey talk to me every-time say make I put my mind for the work. Na her story wey she tell me change my life so; as I talk say, if she fit make am, me sef I go make am”. Bosede Kubwa. (Rightsholder).
2. This vocational training has not only equipped me with practical skills but has also opened doors to making money and taking care of myself and my younger ones. I am happy that I can braid hair and make hair products on my own now. Thank you, NAYA and Voice, for giving me a better future”. Uchechi Mpape (Rightsholder).
3. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Voice and NAYA for giving me and others like me this great opportunity. I am determined to uphold the values I’ve learned, and contribute positively to my community. Thank you, NAYA and Voice, for helping me realize my potential and for being a guiding light in my life.” Jamila Kubwa (Rightsholder).
4. “I dey thank NAYA well-well for bringing back light into my pikin and our family life. When she commot for school because she get belle wey she still be girl, I weak. The man wey give her belle no even send her or the pikin. I no see any help from him or him family, so na me dey struggle to take care of my pikin and her baby. When one community mobilizer tell me about NAYA work, I first wave am off, say na scam, but my daughter talk say she wan join the program. Today, my daughter na correct tailor, she fit sew any kind female cloth. May God bless, NAYA, wey give me and my pikin voice. Today my pikin be correct tailor and a proud owner of aSewing machine”. Mrs U. S. Mpape A Rightsholder Mother

LESSONS LEARNT AND CHALLENGES

The NAYA CHANGE project was a journey of learning and adaptation. NAYA learnt that tailoring the capacity building to address the specific needs and empowering the rightholders beyond skills with financial literacy, leadership, and social skills training is crucial for better project outcomes. NAYA also learnt that deep rooted community engagement with Bwari Area Council Education & Social Welfare Department, the local leaders, and the business artisans helped to gain trust and cooperation of the rightsholders which was imperative to the establishment of the hubs. Additionally, NAYA learnt that encouraging joint ventures promoted collaboration and mutual support.

The rightsholders pooled resources, shared responsibilities, and supported each other through challenges ensuring that the businesses were more resilient and sustainable. As typical of most service delivery project, NAYA faced religious, cultural and socio-economic constraints such as supporting their children and other personal issues. To address this problem, the project offered flexible training schedules and involved male family members in the process, educating them on the benefits of empowering women and their positive impact on the society at large.

RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

The NAYA CHANGE project has made significant progress, but it’s only the beginning. The challenges faced by young women are systemic and require sustained efforts. Donors, government representatives, community leaders, and civil society organizations are all crucial in addressing these issues.

We request OXFAM and other like-minded organizations for additional support to scale up and expand our coverage to other slums in Nigeria. The NAYA CHANGE project has proven that with the right support, even the most vulnerable can rise above their circumstances and become symbols of hope and change. However, to sustain and expand this impact, we need continued commitment and support. Together, we can create a future where every Adolescent Girl and Young Woman has the opportunity to live a life of dignity, purpose, and prosperity.

For more information on how to get involved, visit our website at www.naya.org,ng and contact us via email on nayanigeria2000@gmail.com.