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Accelerating Economic Growth with Skills Development

For many, 2020 was an eventful year thanks to its biggest export – the COVID-19 pandemic. To contain the spread of the deadly virus, governments across the globe introduced national lockdowns. Social events were banned, shops and malls closed, human activities crippled, everyone was confined to their homes. The pandemic has since changed our world.

To say the pandemic – which we currently battle – affected human existence is to state the obvious. Owing to this attendant effects on the global economy, many (mostly young people) have been left jobless or without a means of income thereby rendering them vulnerable to every available means to eke a living. An idle mind, they say, is the devil’s workshop. More than ever, as the globe recovers from the blows of COVID-19, the need for positive youth engagement is important. Young people, without doubt, have a huge role to play in national development and growth of our world, at large.

As an intervention, Access To Learning And School Initiative (ATLAS Initiative) in partnership with Pivot Consult, introduces ACCELERATE Vocational Skills Training Program, a paid opportunity, available for youths and adults who are 15 years and older. With courses in Fashion Design, Catering and Confectionery, ICT, Photography & Business Development, this training intends to equip the youth with skills that would enable them to gain confidence in their ability to eradicate poverty by building prosperity.

This program is indeed imperative and timely considering the struggling economic situations of the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as, the fact that it addresses the Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 4 (Quality Education & Lifelong learning), 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and 17 (Partnership for the goals). Not only that, it seeks to bring young and old people together to make a difference in their own lives and places where change is most needed through sharing of knowledge and experience with one another.

Follow this link to enroll for the ACCELERATE Program

At ATLAS Initiative, we work with volunteers to promote access to life-long learning opportunities in developing countries. To this end, engaging young people in social action to ensure quality education and advance lifelong learning opportunities for everyone, is an essential part of this project.

You are our 2020 Champion!

“How do we change the world?

One random act of kindness at a time.”

— Morgan Freeman

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ATLAS donates wheelchair

When Kehinde Fatai woke up yesterday, it must have seemed like another regular day. The wonderful and vibrant 11 year old twin lives with her parents and siblings in Sangotedo, a community in Ajah, Lagos State. Kehinde has lived with a physical disability since birth. This hindered her access to formal education. While her peers and siblings rushed to school every morning before the outbreak of COVID-19, the young Kehinde stayed at home in this natural confinement since her struggling parents can’t afford to send her to a school for children with special needs.

Sometime ago, one of our volunteers, Stella Akingboye, who is located at Ajah identified Kehinde, noticed her physical disability realizing how it had deprived her of benefits that life has to offer. Stella shared this compelling story with the team and we reached out to Kehinde, and promised to get her a wheelchair and the education she deserves.

We fulfilled part of that promise yesterday, with a surprise visit to Kehinde’s family. You can imagine her excitement! Of course, given how much we love learning, we gifted some books from our library for the kids to read and improve their literacy. We, also gave some foodstuffs and hand hygiene supplies to her family.

Kehinde’s story is just one, out of many. This is our little way of bringing a smile to a child’s face to celebrate this year’s children’s day. Many thanks to all our donors for making this possible.

Please support a child like Kehinde today through ATLAS Initiative. Visit www.atlas.org.ng to find out how.

Volunteer Mindset

We’ve come to understand over the years the power of mindset and of course what we can do with  such power .

Hence,  it is eminent for us to have the right  mindset as a prerequisite to achieving our goals.

Our mindset then is “thinking globally ” which have given birth to numerous and continuous results that we take pride in.

The Mind of a Volunteer is key to collabration,  communication,  critical thinking,  creativity, and crosscultural competence.  The importance is one that brings the best out of our team and makes sustainability fun and appetising .

We encourage our team members to practice discipline,  and to live their life appreciating hard work and most importantly commitment .

The Mind of any Volunteer can build a nation or destroy her.

Orange The World

Women across the world are subjected to physical, sexual, psychological , and economic violence , regardless of their income , age or education.  Such violence can lead to long-term physical, mental and emotional health problems. Around one third of women worldwide have experienced physical and /or sexual violence by an intimate partner or by a non- partner at some point in their lives –  World Women 2015 (UN) .  About 62% of Nigerian women  have experienced domestic violence more than once but have to cover it up,  sometimes out of shame or traditional shenanigans. It is a big problem and one that have to be addressed before it becomes a culture.

We understand the power of voice,  hence we stand together with Arise Nigerian Women Foundation, Community women’s Right foundation, and Humanity Family Foundation For Peace and Development (Huffped) to sign a petition against violence to women, the very mothers of our next generation and the complete element of creation.

Our women are not Punching Bags and neither are they less than man. They are strong and patient which they’ve continued  to show while  pregnant and during childbirth and most importantly in keeping a home .