NATION BUILDING
- REINFORCING STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING.
This is achieved through our flagship civic project called project GRACIH (Grassroots Civic Hub): Promoting Civic Education, Leadership and Good Governance from the Classrooms to the Communities With Schools’ Student Government at the Center.
This is a civic “Bottom to Top” approach project which is only run in our partner schools and it is basically intended to:
- Restore the integrity and relevance of class prefects and school prefects.
- Train these student leaders in servant leadership, good governance and project management.
- Support them to run their own tailored base project to keep their school safe and conducive for learning.
- Identify and add students aged ≥16yrs to our civic database, and follow them up to register with ELECAM when they are ≥20yrs old.
- Liken Class prefects elections to municipal elections and school prefects as parliamentary elections.
- Finally, organize a 1-Week GRACIH YouthConnekt summit every summer which gives student leaders in our partner schools and other schools to be fully grounded in the GRACIH project and culture. (Bottom to Top approach)
2. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT:
This is achieved through our second flagship program Project SKIBEC: Skills Beyond the Classroom which integrates formal education with vocational empowerment for youth self-reliance, turning them into job creators and social entrepreneurs.
To equip secondary school students with at least one vocational skill alongside formal education.
To train school dropouts in community-based apprenticeship centers while enabling them to continue education in evening schools.
To create employment pathways for trained youth through REBAVTC, ROTO ENTERPRISE and partner businesses.
To reduce school dropout rates and promote social inclusion through youth mentorship, supervision and motivation.
To foster a culture of self-reliance and social entrepreneurship, making youth not just job seekers but job creators.
- ENCOURAGING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:
- Encourage Voter Participation:
We inspire individuals who typically wouldn’t register for elections to not only register but also vote and protect their votes.
- Promote Leadership Aspirations:
Motivate capable individuals with integrity, who may not consider running for office, to take up leadership roles.
- Foster Political Engagement:
We encourage those indifferent to politics to join or establish political parties that reflect their core values and beliefs for public interests.
Support Positive Political Change:
We inspire political neutrality to actively contribute ideas, time, money and resources to campaigns promoting transformative and positive change.
- Combat Electoral Malpractice:
We urge individuals to volunteer their time and resources to expose and denounce any form of election malpractice throughout the electoral process.
- ENCOURAGING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
- Community Service Programs:
We organize community service days where students engage in activities like clean-up drives, tree planting or helping in local projects.
- Civic Education Workshops:
We hold sessions that teach students about their civic rights and responsibilities, fostering a sense of national pride and social duty.
- Student Ambassadors Program:
We appoint Student Ambassadors who advocate for positive school practices, like healthy living, environmental responsibility and peer support, creating a peer-driven impact.
- ENHANCING CULTURAL AND ARTS PROGRAMS:
- Cultural Days:
We organize events to celebrate local and national cultural heritage, allowing students to showcase and learn about their traditions through dance, music, drama and art.
- Art and Music Classes:
We provide resources and expertise for extracurricular classes in music, drama and the arts. Sometimes, this includes workshops with local artists or musicians, encouraging creativity.
- Competitions and Showcases:
we host inter-school or intra-school competitions in arts, debate, writing and other cultural expressions, recognizing student talents and encouraging broad participation.
- ENCOURAGING STUDENT-LED INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS:
- Project-Based Learning:
We enable students to take on small projects, like organizing a school event or a community awareness campaign, empowering them to apply their skills and make a difference.
- Funding and Resource Support:
We offer small grants or resources for student-led initiatives that contribute to school improvement or community welfare.
- Recognition and Awards:
We use the REACH BACK awards program to recognize student achievements in governance, leadership, community service and extracurricular participation to motivate ongoing involvement.
- ENGAGING TEACHERS AND PARENTS IN GOVERNANCE AND ACTIVITIES:
- Teacher and Parent Training:
We offer training for teachers and parents on supporting student governance and extracurricular activities, emphasizing the importance of balanced learning and student voice.
- Parent-Teacher-Student Committees:
We work closely with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to bring together teachers, students and parents to discuss school governance, extracurricular programming and student welfare.
- Parent Engagement in Events:
We encourage parents to participate in school events, like sports days or cultural celebrations, fostering a collaborative school environment.
We promote nation-building by motivating young people to:
o Gain essential skills through volunteerism, mentorship and vocational training.
o Freely exercise their civic responsibilities and promote peace through democracy, accountability and leadership.
o Showcase and preserve their culture through arts & crafts, festivals and cultural exchange.
o Exhibit and harness their talents through extracurricular activities, creative performances and competitions.
