Over three million people live in Abuja, Nigeria. The youth make up 70% of this population, including youth with disabilities; the majority of whom live below the poverty line due to unemployment and underdevelopment. The Creative Youth Boot Camp- Art for Social Transformation project works with one hundred (100) young people aged 16 to 25 years old gifted in music, dance, drama, visual arts, photography, creative writing, poetry and fashion. The project turns their creative talents into a profitable enterprise that provides social good for their communities. After the completion of the Creative Youth Boot Camp, the most outstanding participants will be given the opportunity to serve as interns in creative organisations for a minimum of two months and all participants will be matched with mentors who are specialists in their field of interest.

Creative Youth Boot Camp-Art for Social Transformation 

Pelemo was born with a bowlmeg and grew up feeling excluded. Her bones were brittle from birth and even with corrective surgery, she had to walk around with visible metals inserted in her legs. She also needed the aid of crutches to move around. She lacked the confidence to raise her voice against the social ills she faced in society and social injustices she saw people in her community face. Her condition really got to her was when a child screamed and cried in the mall on seeing her. Her mother was overly protective and she was often secluded in her room. Being excluded socially from her peers brought her a lot of mental health stress and anguish because she could not socialise with her peers. 

Street Project Foundation (SPF) is a social enterprise using creative art as a tool to facilitate youth development and economic empowerment.  SPF believes that young people can make a sustainable living doing what they love. When they play and perform, they learn how to turn their talents into enterprise and how to raise their voices about the problems they face on the streets. They work with young people between the ages of 16 to 25 years from low-income backgrounds and residing in underserved communities that have a gift and talent like music, dance, drama, poetry, creative writing, visual arts, fashion design, illustration, etc. 

Through their project, “Creative Youth Boot Camp- Art for Social Transformation” SPF worked with one hundred (100) young people aged 16 to 25 years old gifted in music, dance, drama, visual arts, photography, creative writing, poetry and fashion. The project turned their creative talents into a profitable enterprise that provides social good for their communities. When Street Project Foundation (SPF) put out the call for application for the Creative Youth Boot Camp: Art for Social Transformation, the communication materials specifically stated that Persons with Disabilities were encouraged to apply. This clause attracted Pelemo to apply. She found out about the program on radio. She was excited that a creative program such as this was interested in including persons that looked like her. 

When Pelemo was invited for the auditions, she did not show up. The project team then put a call through to her and found out where she lived and went to her home, auditioned, and recorded her performance. This shocked Pelemo even more. This entire process of selection gave Pelemo hope and more so when she received the email of her selection into the boot camp. During the boot camp, her mobility from home to the boot camp daily was supported and meeting four other persons with disabilities and bonding with others who did not experience the same physical challenges was therapeutic for her.  

As time went on, Pelemo blossomed in the art of spoken word. Reflection Sessions was a key part of the boot camp where everyone shared their struggles and stories without judgement, this allowed her to open up and bond even further. Even though her cohort was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and was concluded virtually, this didn’t deter her. She got the opportunity to constantly create with others and even after graduation, with the support of Street Project Foundation, she was exposed to opportunities to perform in public spaces.  

The big turning point for her was during the VOICE @ 5 Stage Performance. She was the opening act and leading up to that day, she was nervous, about this opportunity. However, it allowed her to face her fears and working with the curators and mentors in preparation for the event helped her know her own strength. When she got on stage, Pelemo exhibited a level of confidence that she had never exhibited in her life. Pelemo did not know her own strength until she performed it and since then, there has been no turning back. She has kept on performing at very important functions, where she is paid to perform her craft. Today, she currently serves as a member of the International Youth Advisory Committee for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and makes a living doing what she loves. 

The use of arts and creative expressions is especially appealing to young people and the organisation’s decision to use the expressive arts in reaching out to people living with disabilities was unique. A key learning point for the project has been that inclusion requires one to go the extra mile, to disrupt pre-existing models of interventions so that one can try out something new and experimental. In addition, creating opportunities where young people can constantly perform and become what they desire, allows them the opportunity to build the confidence they need to become the very best versions of themselves. Mentoring is key to ensuring that young people perform heads taller than their initial capabilities.