Voices of freedom project
funded by OXFAM.
In 2017, we got a grant from Oxfam to implement the ‘Voices of Freedom ’project targeting young people in secondary schools in local communities of Lagos State. Through this project, we established the ‘Voices of Freedom’ club in 2 secondary schools in Ikotun part of Lagos State, where with the support and supervision of school authorities, we meet to discuss key issues affecting young people.
Voices of Freedom Project was a great learning process for us and a great source of empowerment for us as an Organization.
Voices of freedom project targeted poor community schools in remote part of Lagos State because we believes that they have been left behind in development activities since most interventions by donor and government take place in modern areas. CAPRIGHTS also identified the following social challenges that militate against the academic performance of students within the secondary education system in Lagos State:
- Sexual violence against both school girls and boys
- Early/unwanted pregnancy amongst young girls
- Juvenile delinquency by students and teachers alike
- High rate of school absenteeism by female students due to challenges encountered during menstrual cycle
key Achievements of Project
One of the key achievement of the project in the is the development of 2 guidelines on sexual violence and juvenile delinquency. These guidelines were handed over to the 2 pilot schools under the project and the Agege LG Education Board. We see this as a lasting legacy of the Voices of Freedom Project as it will guide teachers, councilors and parents in handling these issues both within & outside schools.
Another great achievement of the project is the Voices of Freedom Platform which remains a safe space where young secondary school boys and girls come together to express their feelings around pertinent issues bordering students of their age. The transformation we’ve seen in these young people from shy and timid to confident outspoken students is also a huge part of our success story.
Specific Achievement
In addition to the specific achievements on activities carried out during the project, which are also captured below, we have also been able to record to following specific achievements during and after the project:
- Supported young people to explore and discover their inner strength; revealing rare confidence and boldness that they never believed they have;
- Young people in the 2 pilot schools are now aware of their right and determined to stand on the motto- ‘You have a Voice- Speak Out’ against sexual violence and juvenile delinquency
- Students and teachers sensitized on menstrual hygiene and hygiene pack used to demonstrate how the menstrual cycle works and how to stay clean and healthy during menstruation
- Guideline on juvenile delinquency and sexual violence developed, adopted by relevant stakeholders and disseminated to schools and local authority as a legacy that will sustain the initiative after the grant
- Establishment of working partnership with the 2 target schools, where school authorities are taking active part in the process and see the project as theirs
- Created visibility for the project and attracted wider stakeholder support
- Established a safe space for the students to come together and share their experiences; express themselves on issues which ordinarily they would not have been able to talk about.
- Empowered teachers and guidance with knowledge and information on sexual violence, unwanted pregnancy and juvenile delinquency so that they are better prepared to handle such cases when it come up in the school
