Fashioning Future Leaders: A Story of Transformation

Developing leaders is an important task worldwide. Great leadership potential often goes unnoticed in many people, especially in communities of poverty, and when that happens the potential remains unused and undeveloped. At World Renew, we are grateful to God for opportunities to work with and develop leaders in many communities around the world.

In January 2013 World Renew, through Beacon of Hope Initiative (BHI) implemented a project called “Protecting Adolescent Health and Rights.” The project is funded by the Canadian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD) and is currently empowering adolescents in forty communities of five states in Nigeria.

Since its inception, the adolescent health project has involved 310 peer educators who receive training to lead groups of their peers in a variety of important life issues. The educators are encouraged to dream about their future and to think of themselves as developing leaders.

It is a thing of joy to see young leaders emerging from this effort.

Reports from some school administrators and community leaders indicate that these inspired young leaders have already taken on important roles and are actively serving their communities. At Begiading Secondary Grammar School in Obadu, Cross River, the senior prefects for both boys and girls are from the adolescent health groups established in the school a year ago. The principal and staff of the school say that an encouraging number of adolescents in the program are taking impressive leadership action in ways they have not seen before in the school.

Angela, the Girls Senior Prefect, said the program has helped build her self-esteem and has greatly improved her confidence in providing purposeful and visionary leadership both in school and outside of it. Angela has made a commitment to maintain good values and avoid risky behaviors that would compromise her values and relationship standards.

Angela is confident that God will continue to grow her leadership abilities so that she can contribute to her future home and country—something she never clearly thought through before her involvement in BHI’s adolescent health and rights program. Richard, the Boys Senior Prefect, also explains that the program is helping him develop confidence as a leader and he sees himself taking on higher responsibilities responsibly.

Joel Philip, a teacher at Government Day Secondary School Ussah/Takum in Taraba, notes with appreciation that the program is a blessing for the school. A recent election of leaders of a fellowship group in the school produced four principal officers (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer) who are peer educators of the adolescent health and rights project.

Apart from the leadership impact that the adolescent health and rights project is creating in the target communities among peer educators, other adolescent participants are also beginning to experience the joy of making positive choices. Parents and teachers have commented about the good choices that the adolescents are making and how happy they are with this development.

World Renew believes that as these young minds develop positive character traits, more of their young peers will be influenced to impact communities positively by developing and using their own leadership potential.

Pray for Nigeria
Thank God for…

Successful end-of-year-one activities in the protecting adolescent health and rights project in all 40 of the target communities in Nigeria.
Cordial relationships with a variety of stakeholders in ongoing development programs with partners through schools, religious groups, and communities.
People and organizations that are supporting the various ministry efforts of World Renew in Nigeria.

Pray for…

Peace in Nigeria as politicians declare their intensions and start campaigns to run for office in the upcoming general elections in 2015.
The church in Nigeria to continue to love their neighbors while encouraging and empowering members to shine in dark corners and expand God’s kingdom.
Wisdom for World Renew and partner staff as they work in different contexts.

Blessings,