In Nigeria, women’s access to leadership is limited because society thinks that leadership belongs to men.

Why we care:  Adolescent girls in Nigeria are the most affected by poverty; at risk for HIV/AIDs, exploitation, trafficking and abuse, and yet are uniquely positioned to break the cycle-of-poverty with the right skills and opportunities.

How we’re solving this: Helping 30 girls build leadership, financial and vocational skills and access resources to contribute meaningfully to their lives and communities.  

Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) helps to cultivate the next generation of leaders in Lagos, Nigeria, with the skills, tools and information to participate at all levels of society.

This project will help KIND’s leadership program provide 30 adolescent girls (ages 14 to 18) and young women (ages 19 to 24) monthly training on advocacy, financial management, emotional intelligence and sexuality and reproductive health. In addition, this funding will help KIND keep leadership program alumnae connected to each other and what they’ve learned. KIND will do this by continuing to operate Junior Kudra Clubs—which exist to offer safe spaces for girls and young women at high schools and universities—to find a support system to practice their leadership skills.

In addition to providing leadership training, KIND will provide girls with vocational training on unique careers that challenge the stereotypical notion of roles and responsibilities of women. For example, this project will help train 10 girls and young women in technical skills, such as photography, shoe-making and automobile, mobile phone and computer repairs. These participants will also have the opportunity—if they choose—to learn traditional skills, such as catering, soap making, and fashion and jewelry making.

KIND has also established relationships with more than 20 corporations and business owners to provide first-level employment or internship opportunities. Since 2009—when the placement program began—30 alumnae have been placed in internship or employment positions.