Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) collaborated with YEDI, and its technical partner, GrassrootSoccer to implement SKILLZ for health in Ibeju Lekki Communities with the aim of contributing to improved health and well-being outcomes for 300 adolescents and youths (13-20 years) due to changing attitudes and behavior towards sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), substance abuse, and gender-based violence (GBV).
The project kicked off with an inception and townhall meeting, which was well attended by the Baales of the seven benefiting communities (Itoke, Ilekuru, Oke-segun, MagbonSegun, Okunraye, Alasia, Idotun communities).
With the inception done, the first phase of the project kicked off with 100 adolescents selected from all the communities undergoing a 5-day intervention that provides non-residential safe spaces for young people to learn healthy habits and be educated about SRHR, GBV and substance abuse, using football and other physical activities, as well as access to HIV testing services.
Leaders and members of the communities have also expressed their gratitude to Ishk Tolaram, LFZ, YEDI and GrassrootSoccer for implementing such an impactful project. During parental engagement, they observed that they saw meaningful changes in their adolescents who partook in the 5-day intervention and expressed their readiness for the next phase of the project, which will also be rolled out for a new set of 100 adolescents.