“NOT A WASTE OF TIME - The NYSC SCHEME is a Fertile Ground For NGOs!” – SANDRA OKELEKE

While there are widespread calls for the Government to scrap the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, some are of a different opinion.

The reason is simple: they are already entrepreneurs and well on their way to being employers of labour. They tapped into the job creation vision of the Corps and learned to maximize their knowledge and become creative and enterprising.

The idea to equip graduates of tertiary institutions with skills during the Service Year informed the introduction of the skill acquisition and development scheme.

Away from the skill acquisition, there are other corps members who believe the scheme gave them the opportunity to pass on knowledge to the younger generation and primarily, to sensitise the indigenes of their host communities on empowerment and entrepreneur opportunities.

Primarily, these are functions of the NGOs but the corps members, as young people, have the power and responsibility to stand up and take action to achieve unity and sustainable development in their countries.

As part of Stamp Out GBV’s collaborative work with NGOs, we are delighted to introduce Sandra Okeleke, the President of ‘Passion for Self Discovery Initiative (PSDI)’. We interviewed this ‘young activist’ to discuss some of her NGO’s most iconic campaigns and her quest for a better Nigerian Youth while not forgetting her experience at the recently completed NYSC Scheme.

Sandra Okeleke

Meet her and her kind of ACTIVISM:

Okeleke Ifeanyi Sandra is my name – born to be ‘MAD (Making A Difference)’. I'm a graduate of Mass Communication from the prestigious Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (Abeokuta, Ogun State) and also, a BSc student of Crescent University where I’m studying Mass Communication.

I'm the Founder of ‘Passion for Self Discovery Initiative’ – it is a Non-Governmental Organisation. Our aim is to create an atmosphere where youths can thrive in every facet of life while contributing positively to nation building.  We also help our youth to discover their talents, nurture it and put it into use. There is this gap we help to bridge in the literacy level between the rich and the poor. So far so good, we have seen our impact as we continue to help the youth develop patriotic, entrepreneurial and self-reliant spirit.

A gender-based ACTIVISM?

No! Our organisation is not gender based – it is for both male and female.

You recently completed the National Youth Service Corps Programme – so, is the one-year programme a fertile ground for young activists (serving corps members) to grow and explore their activism?

In all sincerity, the NYSC scheme is a very fertile ground to grow and explore if you are not lazy. The scheme helps you to carry out your activities with ease. Being a serving corps member, doors are open to you where you least expected, even the Governor’s office. I remember during my service year when I organised a ‘Valentine’s Special Programme’ for secondary school students and the turn up was massive. This was because it was a programme everyone wanted to support knowing the convener was a corps member. But trust me, it takes dedication and hard-work to achieve such success.

Sandra, in one of her many programmes for Secondary Schools

What were your experiences like in running your organization or getting involved with other NGOs during your service year?

First, it was fun and getting involved with other NGOs was quite easy. The fact that I was a corps member and had an NGO made me stand out. People wanted to work with me – they said the dedication, the zeal and the passion I had for youth development made me charismatic and approachable to them. In fact, the service year opened doors I must admit.

Does the NYSC leadership fund or bankroll certified youth activists and their organizations?

I really do not have an idea. However, it doesn’t stop others from going to the NYSC offices to make inquiries concerning that. I sourced for my funds from outside channels.

What's the key to success for other young activists that want to explore the horizon during their service years?

The key is dedication and hard-work. They must also be passionate about whatever the intend doing. More so, they must make themselves friendly, available and approachable. Most important, the place of God cannot be ignored – they need to be prayerful because prayer is the Master’s key.

On the Awards she won on her service year?

They are too numerous to mention. Not just the awards alone, I had many recommendations as well.

Displaying some of the Awards and Recommendations she won/received

Away from the NYSC Scheme – On Getting involved in NGO and her MOTIVATION:

The alarming increase of unemployment in our society was what motivated me and I strongly believe that when we teach these young ones how to be self-reliant, this problem would be reduced to a minimal level.

On facing the 'youth stigma' as the President of an NGO since young people are often dismissed in the 'running of things' simply by virtue of their age:

Youth stigma is inevitable and I am one of its victims but I have learnt to go for what I want and never accept “No” for an answer. My passion, to make a difference, drives me on – always!

The value young people bring to ACTIVISM:

Young people actually bring lots of value to activism for reason being that the entire society looks up to us to be ‘MAD’ and so, as a youth, when you ‘Make A Difference (MAD)’, the society appreciate you and want to reckon with you.

On funding her NGO:

Funding? That's a major challenge for a young lady wanting to make a difference – I must say it hasn’t been easy at all. I am a student (a corps-member) and running a Non-Governmental Organisation without a good paying-job – you know what that means! Well, in spite of all these commitment, some people share my vision and would always support financially when the need arises; more so, my family and friends are not left out, especially my fiancé, who has been of tremendous support in all ways.

Her NGO's campaign she is most proud of:

I can't readily pick one or call to mind but generally, I am proud of all our campaign as we have identified the hidden potentials in young ones and helped them to grow in those areas, and the results have been wonderful.

On issues limiting the chances of the Nigerian youth and her advice:

My advice to the younger generation, any time and any day, is for them to discover who they are, discover their passion and work on it and I tell them, they would never regret doing so.

On thoughts to give up on her project:

Many times, I have felt like giving up, especially due to lack of funding. There are times we have had projects (already prepared and everything is set) but there was no money to carry those projects out and we had to cancel them. Such experience breaks the heart and I’ve often felt like quitting but each time that feeling arises, something in me reminds me that so many lives would suffer if I take such a decision. That reminder has always been my driving-force.

The MONEY or the MESSAGE?

We are more concerned about the message – our work is like that of a teacher, who does the highest job and gets the least payment. We want a society, free of unemployment and as such, there would be absence of crime and other vices.

INFO OF HER NGO (Membership is OPEN):

PASSION FOR SELF-DISCOVERY INITIATIVE

National Office: Lagos State

Telephone: 0816 279 4459

Organisation Type: Non-Governmental Organization

Year of Establishment: 2014

Fields of Activity: Youth Advocacy and Empowerment, Arts, Democracy and Community Development, Environment/Sustainable Development, Gender Heritage, Human Rights, International/Cultural Relations Media and Education.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Passion for Self-Discovery Initiative is a Youth non-profit/non-governmental organization established in Abeokuta, Ogun State in 2014 when a group of young people decided to unite their efforts for causes that would empower them for the benefit of their nation.

Since then, Passion for Self-Discovery Initiative has been a leading national youth organization that works to mainstream young people’s engagement in development and governance processes in Nigeria. PSDI has responded to the increasing demand for a collective platform for research, training and policy advocacy for young people by young people.

PSDI has been working to support youth empowerment through creating platforms and infrastructure with which youth can debate critical issues, build their capacity, carry out lobbying and advocacy, and generate policy change.

OUR CORE VALUES:

Justice – We will work to promote and safeguard the integrity of the youth, in any part of Nigeria. We will advocate for their rights and when they are violated we are committed to providing support.

Respect – We regard all of our employees, the youth whom we serve, donors, supporting organizations and the wider community with honour and dignity and without discrimination.

Dignity – All persons within the organization or receiving resources or services from the organization should be treated fairly and with unconditional respect, regardless of their station.

Integrity– We are committed to operating transparently in all of our dealings with the public, donors, partners, beneficiaries, and other interested parties. Our basic financial information, governance structure, activities, and partnerships shall be open and accessible to public scrutiny in an effort to eliminate corruption and misappropriation of resources.

Accountability – We are completely accountable to the Nigerian youth whom we aim to serve, to our funding agencies, employees, volunteers, members, partner organizations, and the public at large for all our actions and decisions.

OUR MISSION:

Passion for Self-Discovery Initiative aims to support the active involvement of young people in various areas of public life:

·        To promote personal development and democratic citizenship, volunteering and youth mobility.

·        To support the development of the abilities and potential of young people from different social and ethnic groups, and young people with disabilities.

·        Organizing advocacy campaigns; development and implementation of strategies and programs at local, national and international level.

·        Members of the organization are involved in developing, evaluating and managing various programs and projects in the social sector, education and the media. One of the main priorities of the Passion for Self-Discovery Initiative is developing national and international partnerships with similar organizations, active exchange of ideas and best practices, creating a rich network all over the world.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

Passion for Self-Discovery Initiative would diversify but largely concentrate on the following aspects of young people in various areas of public life:

1.                 Promoting the upgrading of qualifications and motivation of young people;

2.                 Supporting the social integration and personal fulfilment of the youth;

3.                 The development and promotion of active citizenship of young people;

4.                 Encouraging youth to participate in representative democracy;

5.                 The development of education, democratic values, science, culture and sport;

6.                 Construction and promotion of national values;

7.                 The protection and promotion of human rights;

8.                 Stimulating mobility in and outside of Nigeria, informal education and intercultural dialogue;

9.                 Building positive attitude of society towards representatives of different groups and ethnicities, reduce discrimination and marginalization;

10.            Promoting employment and the inclusion of all young people, regardless of educational and social level or cultural background;

11.            Contributing to the development of support systems for youth activities and the capacity of civil society organizations working in the youth field;

12.            Encourage the provision of services for the integration of vulnerable youth groups in society, including unemployed and students, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and others;

13.            Support to disadvantaged youth;

14.            Promote and build a culture of life and public health;

15.            The protection and preservation of the environment;

16.            Improve the quality of life of young people in the country;

17.            Conducting various types of charity events.