Ota is a fast growing community with an estimated population of over 500,000 people in an area of 339 square miles. It is about a 20 minutes drive away from Lagos State one of the major cities in Nigeria. It is mostly agrarian in nature with middle class and low income families. Nigeria is considered the most populous country in Africa with over 190 Million people with about 50% below 30.
Girls Leading Africa seeks to accelerate the development of communities by providing girls and teenage mothers (especially those who have experienced abuse) access to quality education and equipping them with vocational and interpersonal skills to take responsibility for their lives and community. We believe that when a girl is educated and empowered, she grows to be a woman who is part of the decision-making processes in her community, changing dynamics - silenced voices heard, healthy and educated children raised and economies grow.
DreamCode reaches children and teens through a S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics) based afterschool program and invests in mentoring high school students to be leaders and role models in the program. Our vision is to impact the community by helping young people get the right education, develop relevant job / life skills, break the cycle of poverty and grow in their faith.
Crystal Lens means clarity of vision. The organization was borne out of a strong desire to help young people from vulnerable communities in Lagos, Nigeria to look beyond existing limitations; clearly see the potentials that God deposited in them, and be equipped for academic/career success. UNICEF reported that Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in the world. Unfortunately, those who are privileged to go to school still suffer unemployment as many schools are not well equipped to adequately prepare young people for workplace realities. Hence, Crystal Lens hopes to bridge the gap in education and workforce development among vulnerable young people in Lagos, Nigeria.
