Youth ICT & Skills Acquisition Project (YISAP)

Baywood foundation in line with its core mandate which is to support populations and communities at negative edges of household income, unemployment, healthcare access, illiteracy, marginalization, and exclusion, has received a grant award of ninety-eight thousand, nine hundred and twenty-five dollars ($98,925) from The Coca-Cola Foundation to enable them to empower 600 youths in Enugu state through a project called Youth ICT and Skills Acquisition Project (YISAP).

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On the 21^st of January, 2021, Baywood Foundation in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation officially launched the Youth ICT and Skills Acquisition Project (YISAP) in Enugu state. The YISAP Opening Ceremony had in attendance key stakeholders in the private and public sector, including representatives of the Enugu State Government, The Coca-Cola Foundation, the National Youth Council, The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities JONAPWDS amongst others.

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As part of the project implementation, the YISAP Project Team, led by the Country Director paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of Udi Local Government, Hon. Paschal Ifeanyi Agu. The visit was to officially brief the chairman on the YISAP Project as well as inform him about its implementation which will later commence in the Local Government. The Country Director of Baywood Foundation, Barr. Ojielo Chukwudi stated that the choice of the Udi is hinged on the mapping done on the various LGA in Enugu to know which Local Government has a good foundation for business and investments. He said the selected LGs have huge market access, especially in the 9th Mile areas. In other words, potential beneficiaries will not find it difficult to start up something after the training as there are existing markets and populations in the area. He stated that the project will empower 200 youth including people with disabilities (PWDs) as well as provide support grants to 33 of them. In response, the Chairman thanked the team for the visit and promised to support the project to ensure its successful implementation, and ensure information is passed down to all the communities.

On the 25th of January, 2021, the YISAP Project team met with the Community Town President Generals in Udi. The meeting was to create awareness on the project implementation in their local government and get commitments from them to help step down the information to their community members and assist them in the registration and expression of interest for the project through the portal. The President Generals were provided with the letters containing program description as well registration portal links, to distribute to churches and other associations in their communities for announcement and publicity.

Using simple qualitative research methodologies knowing that Udi LGA has an area of 897 km2 and a population of 370,002 according to data from the 2015 census. Our project team carried out a baseline needs assessment research among selected 120 Udi Youths (out of which 10 were Persons with Disability, 47Males, and 63females) aged between 18 to 35years, to find out what skill categories are relevant to them.

The method used was a Focused Group Discussion (FGD). A total of fifteen FGDs were conducted, 14 FGDs had 8 participants each, while 1 FGD session was special for PWDS with 8 participants (4 physically challenged and 4 BLIND people).

The result of the activity showed:

• That the Udi Youths were willing to embrace skill acquisition training.
• That there’s adequate market access for the skill categories that have been earlier designed.
• That there is need to expand the training courses to fill in more skills.

The discussion helped us understand the particular challenges that persons with disabilities face and the need to provide them with the support they would require. Hence, as a response to the FGD findings, we expanded our courses and included more skills.

A thorough, simple but merit-oriented strategy was employed to identify and select potential beneficiaries for the YISAP Project. Baywood Foundation collaborated with the Udi Local Government, working with the President Generals of Community Town Unions as well as Religious and Traditional Institutions to create awareness and publicity on the project. Prospective participants registered their interest to participate through a portal linked to our website. We received over 600 applications, shortlisted 300 for an interview and physical selection, and finally selected the 200 participants that will be benefiting from the project.

The selection of participants for the YISAP Project in UDI passed through a series of steps. First, a portal link for registration and expression of interest was created to enable accurate data collation and as a measure to ensure COVID-19 compliance. The portal (link: www.baywoodfoundation.org/yisapregistration) was opened to receive applications on 26th January 2021 and closed on Monday, 8th February 2021. During this period, A total of 632 applications were received, out of which 300 were shortlisted for the final selection and interview held at the Local Government Headquarters on the 11th February 2021.

The final 200 participants who would later participate in the project were selected from the 300 shortlisted for the physical interview, the 200 selected were those that met the basic criteria and showed the desired commitment and zeal to participate in the project.

Udi, the first Local Government for the implementation of the Youth ICT and Skills Acquisition Project is located in an Economically viable area of Enugu State. Udi is home to very many economic activities, companies, and businesses. The Popular Coca-Cola Bottling Company has a plant in Udi, 9th Mile area. The area due to its viable human population and business presence is very welcoming to start-ups and small-scale enterprises. The road leading to the location is good, the power supply is sparsely available. The area is renowned for its palm wine productions and also home to natural tourist places such as the popular Awhum waterfall

The YISAP Radio Program was first held on Wednesday 20th January 2021 to announce the inception of the YISAP project. The monthly YISAP Radio program is aired live on Dream 92.FM, Enugu. The program provides awareness, sensitization, and education to the general public on the YISAP Project and its implementation. We also created jingles in English and Igbo language which are used by the radio station to further engage the public during our programs.

So far, since January, a total of 5 radio programs have been conducted with resource persons selected across our partners, facilitators/trainers, and the participants. The YISAP participant guests on the program use the platform to share their success stories and experience on the project.

For the first part of the training, participants learn fundamentals of Information, Communication, and Technology Skills as well as Graphics Design and Digital Marketing. The training part is a general class for all the 200 participants. The training was designed to provide the participants with the knowledge of the ICT and Media, and how they can leverage the Graphics Design and Digital Marketing Skills to boost visibility for their small start-up during the project.

Our Facilitators taught the participants various ICT skills. The courses covered within this period include:

1. Computer Appreciation

2. Microsoft Office Applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

3. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

4. Social Media Marketing

5. Content Development

6. Content Marketing

As part of the training, the participants were given assignments to create social media handles, open pages on social media for their business, and other class-work practicals to access their level of understanding of what they have learned.

This part comprises practical training on participants’ chosen skills. Each of the 200 participants chooses to learn one of the following:

·Homemade Consumables (Confectionaries, bakeries, etc.);

·Household Essentials (Making of Soap, Cream, Detergents, etc)

·Make-Up/Fascinators and Hats

·Photography, Photo, and Video Editing

·Barbing

So far, the participants in the Homemade Consumable Class have learnt how to make confectionaries such as Bons, Fish Rolls, Meat Pie, Fish Pie, Cup Cakes, Spring Roll, Butter Pie, Chin Chin, Shawarma, Arm Burger, Diet, Soya bean Powder, and Custard Powder. They have the professional start-up, management, and start of a confectionary sales business.

For the Household Essentials class, the facilitators have trained the participants on how to produce Air Freshener, Perfumes, Liquid Soap, Shampoo, Car Wash, Conditioner, Hair Creams, Setting Lotion, jik, Izal, Dustin Powder, Dettol, Pest Control, Body Cream, and Hand Sanitizer.

The participants under the Makeup/Fascinator and Hat Making Class have undergone several training on the skill choice. The facilitator began with an introduction into what obtains of a Make-Up Artist, Make-Up Box, and Make-Up products. So far, they have learnt how to do full make-up, including how to draw an eyebrow and how to apply eye shadow. Oftentimes, the participants have demonstrated and practiced on each other to improve their skills. The Fascinator and hat-making class on the other hand have learnt how to make a simple fascinator, a fascinator with a flower, a fascinator with pearls, a Net fascinator, Fascinator with a flat design, Fascinator with curve design, making Rose with crinoline. and finally how to make a Mold fascinator.

Participants in the barbing class have learnt various barbing skills. The facilitator began with putting them through the history of barbing; Introduction and knowledge/formation of a barber’s shop; Safety measures and precautions in the barbing saloon; Sterilization of barbing equipment and cleanings; Customer relationship and business communications. At the moment, the participants under this class can cut different hairstyles such as Afro style, Punk style, Low cut, Round cuts, Steps style, Hair coloring, and Hairdressing, etc. The participants have also undergone a practical assessment of their skills, as well as training on Cash and expenditures management in barbers’ shops and how to save and manage cash been realized in barbing business.

The Photography Class on the other hand has been very engaging with their participants. The participants have been trained on Camera Handling and Packaging; Camera Packs and Kits and recommended equipment; Aperture and Shutter Speed and ISO, Photocomposition, Type of Shots, Exposure; photo editing; Video Editing; Photoshop Extension (Beauty retouch). The participants have also engaged in classwork and assessment.

On the 29th of April, 2021, the YISAP Project implementation in UDI came to a close after completing 40 sessions of training. The event witnessed the presence of various project partners. The Local Government was duly represented by the Deputy Chairman of the council alongside 15 other local government executive members. The Coca-Cola Foundation was also represented by Mr. Uche Udo, the Depot Manager, NBC 9th Mile.

During the event, thirty-three (33) beneficiaries of the project were given seed funds of N45,000 each to enable them to start up their business. The seed funds beneficiaries were selected across all the 5 skill categories- Homemade Consumables, Household Essentials, Barbing, Make-up and Fascinator and Hats, Photography, Photo, and Video Editing.

Highlights of the event were goodwill messages from the Local Government and the Coca-Cola Foundation representative. The LG Deputy Chairman, Hon. Prince Anthony Okolie thanked the Coca-Cola Foundation and Baywood Foundation for the choice of UDI for the implementation of the YISAP project. According to him, “Now, these people here can support themselves financially with the skill they have learnt through this program. We are grateful to the Coca-Cola Foundation for this opportunity.”

During the ceremony, there was a practical exhibition of the works and learnings of the beneficiaries. The YISAP Participants did on-the-spot productions and displays of theirs skill across the 5-skills categories. One of the PWDs, a physically challenged person, Juliet Isiozor, represented the Household Essential Class and produced Air fresher on the spot. Others came with the products of their handwork and displayed them as well. All the products learnt during the training sessions were on the stage for display.

The zenith of the program was the outstanding sales patronage the YISAP Participants received from the guests. The Local Government Team bought products from participants as a way of support and encouragement.

The Local Government Chairman donated N100,000 to support the participants that were not selected to receive the seed funds. The representative of the Coca-Cola Foundation also patronized them as well as supported and encouraged the PWDs to leverage the skills they learnt to support themselves financially through small businesses.

There were other side attractions and entertainment during the event. Some of these include Drama Presentation and Appreciation Songs by the participants.

Igbo-Eze North is the second local government for the implementation of the Youth ICT and Skill Acquisition Project. It is located in an economically viable area of Enugu State. Igboeze North is home to many economic and businesses. It shares borders with Kogi State and Benue State. Its headquarter is in the town of Enugu-Ezike. This local government also has twenty council wards. It has an area of 293 km2 and a population of 259,431 as in the 2006 census report. The area due to its viable human population and business presence is very welcoming to start up a small-scale enterprise. The road leading to the place is relatively good, the power supply is sparsely available. The local government is rich in Agricultural production.

The YISAP Radio is a monthly radio program designed to create awareness about the project goals, objectives and implementation plans across the selected Local government of implementation.

The YISAP Radio was held on Friday, 25th of June 2021. The guest speakers were Mr. Ogbu Obinna( Baywood Foundation Program Officer), Mr. Ezegba George (Participant from Photo/Video Editing Class) and Miss. Uwakwe Euphemia (Participant from Fascinator Class). They spoke on the progress of the project so far in Igboeze North Local Government. The two participants on their own part recounted their training experiences. They both used the medium to advise youths residing in Enugu East Local Government to embrace the opportunity to become productive and self-reliant.

Ogbu Obinna also used the medium to announce the date for the last phase of the YISAP Project in Enugu State, which will be held in Enugu East LG. He further reiterated the basic application requirements which include: applicant must be an indigene and resident in Enugu East LG; applicants must fall between the age bracket of 18-35 years, and applicants must be readily available all through the YISAP training period which runs from the month of August to November.

In May, the YISAP project team engaged in series of program activities which are outlined below as follows:

1. Pre-training activities

2. Training activities

PRE-TRAINING ACTIVITIES

These include:

1. COURTESY VISIT TO STAKEHOLDERS

In the month under review, the project team embarked on advocacy visits to key stakeholders in Igboeze North Local Government, they include The LG Chairman, Traditional and Religious Leaders to get their buy-in into the project.

2. AWARENESS CREATION IN LOCAL LANGUAGE

The project team also carried out a 2-days awareness campaign in the Local Language to invite and sensitize the Community and Prospective Beneficiaries on the Project. Furthermore, the YISAP project team, Designed and shared via social media handles,

e-fliers to popularize the project;

3: OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE YISAP PROJECT IN IGBOEZE-NORTH LGA

The official launch of the project at Igboeze North LG was on the 18th of May 2021. This was held at the Local Government HQ at Enugu Ezike. The ceremony kicked off at exactly 11 am with all the guests and the selected beneficiaries in attendance

The training sessions are structured in two parts, these include:

1. THE ICT/GRAPHICS DESIGN AND DIGITAL MARKETING SESSIONS

For the first part of the training, participants learnt fundamentals of information and communication technology skills as well as graphics design and digital marketing. This training part is a general class for all the selected 200 participants. The training was designed to provide the participants with the knowledge of ICT and Social media and how they could leverage Graphic Design and Digital Marketing Skills to boost visibility for their small start-up businesses. The facilitators taught the participants various ICT skills. The courses covered within this period include:

a. Computer Appreciation

b. Microsoft Office Application: Word, Excel, and Powerpoint

c. Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

d. Social Media Marketing

e. Content Development

f. Content Marketing

As part of the training, the participants were given assignments to create social media handles, open pages on social media for their business, and other classwork practicals, to access their level of understanding of what they have learnt.

This part comprises practical training on participants’ chosen skills. Each of the 200 participants chooses to learn one of the following:

a. Home-made consumables.

b. Household Essentials.

c. Make-up/Fascinators and Hats

d. Photography, photo and Video Editing

e. Barbing

Participants in the Homemade Consumable class have learnt how to make confectionaries such as Chin Chin, Banana Muffins, Queen Cup Cake, Peanut, and Meat Pie.

For the Household Essentials class, the facilitators have trained the participants on how to produce, Dettol, Vaseline, Izal, Liquid Soap, Shampoo, Bar soap Bleach, Hair Setting Lotion, Car Wash, and Hand wash.

The participants under the Makeup/Fascinator and Hat Making Class have perfected the skills of drawing and applying eyebrow and eye shadow respectively.

The fascinator and Hat making class, on the other hand, have also perfected the skills to make simple fascinators with flowers, Pearls, Net, Flat design, and Fascinator with curved designs; Making Rose with crinoline, and finally how to make mold fascinator.

Participants in the barbing class have perfected various skills involved in barbing. At the moment, the participants have also undergone a practical assessment of their skills, as well as training on cash and expenditure management in barbers shop and how to save and manage cash been realized in barbing business. 

The photography class on the other hand has been very engaging. The participants in the month of June carried out documentaries on native delicacies and on game reserve located at Nsukka.

The month was also marked with beehives of exhibitions in each of the classes. Firstly in the make-up class, 4 groups participated in the exhibitions which were made up of 28 participants. They made up their clients in eye shadow carving, face painting, lips painting, and fixing of eyelashes.

Furthermore in the Home Made Consumables Class, 4 groups participated in the exhibitions which were made up of 21 participants. They produced Meat Pie, Banana Muffins, Fish Roll, Egg Roll, Bons, and chin chin. It is worthy to note that each of the participants was allowed to participate in the exhibition with strict compliance to the caterer dressing code and Covid -19 prevention protocols.

In the House Hold Essentials Class, only 2 groups participated in the exhibitions, which were made up of 12 participants. They produced Vaseline, Bleach, Car Wash, and Hand Wash. The participants wore the basic protective attires so as to forestall adverse reactions from the chemicals used in the production of the above-mentioned items.

In the Barbing class, only one group participated in the exhibition. This group was made up of two persons. The Only female in the barbing class by the name Divine Favour dyed the hair of her client while the other participant by the name Ugwuanyi Jude, barbed the hair of his client. Both the participants and their clients wore the required barbing kits.

In the photo and video editing class, two groups participated in the exhibitions. They played important roles in carrying out photo shoots and video coverage of the month exhibitions.

This is designed to appraise the YISAP Project implementation process periodically, so as to march Project implementation with the Project plan. In the month of June, the Monitoring and Evaluation officer in conjunction with our project team visited four recipients of seed funds in Udi Local Government. This is aimed at appraising the extent to which the fund recipients have utilized the seed fund given to them. The team also provided professional advice to most of the mind-boggling issues, raised by the fund recipients in Udi Local Government. However other issues such as the demand for more funds to cushion the skyrocketed cost of procuring materials were further relayed to Baywood Foundation management for consideration.

More so in the month under review, the M&E Team was also actively involved in carrying out a weekly evaluation of Igboeze North YISAP Project implementation. This was all in the bid of marching the implementation process with what was planned.

On the 12th of July, 2021, the YISAP Project implementation in Igboeze North came to a close, after the successful completion of 40 sessions mapped out for the training. The event was graced by Igboeze North political stakeholders, Traditional rulers, parents, guardians and YISAP beneficiaries. The local government Chairman, represented by the Secretary to the council, Barr. Paul C. Odo expressed gratitude to the Coca-Cola and Baywood foundation for the privilege it afforded the Local government, to be among the selected local governments of YISAP project implementations.

During the ceremony, selected YISAP beneficiaries were allowed to exhibit what they have learnt. In other words there were on- the- sport productions and displays of skills, across the 5-skills categories by selected beneficiaries. Two persons from barbing class (Ossai Anthony and Divine Favour(Female) gave a perfect haircut to two other YISAP beneficiaries; Agubuja Comfort O. and Ugwuanyi Canice(Male) who were from the make-up class made up two female beneficiaries on the spot; whereas Asogwa Gebechukwu, Omeh Modester, Ojadi Attenacia H. and Eze Martha Chinonso produced Dettol, Perfume, Meat Pie, and Queen Cup Cake respectively. Uwakwe Euphemia and one of the PWD by the name Okechukwu Lynda from the fascinator class produced on-the-spot fascinators. Most of the beneficiaries brought their produced materials which were displayed and sold to the guests who were thrilled with their handiworks.

The climax of the event was the award of seed funds to 33 participants who distinguished themselves among their colleagues during the training.

One of the dignitaries present by name Chief Mathias Omeh (Formal Commissioner of Agriculture in Enugu state) in His remark promised to help the rest of the beneficiaries who did not receive the seed fund, to access soft loans from Obollo Micro Finance Bank, since they have acquired the requisite skills to be self-employed.

ENTRY VISIT TO ENUGU EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT

As part of the project implementation strategy, the YISAP project Team led by Barr. Ojielo Chukwudi(Baywood Foundation Country Director) on 29th August 2021, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government, Hon. Alex Ugwu, The visit was to officially brief the chairman on the YISAP project as well as to inform him on how it will be implemented in the Local Government. Hon. Alex Ugwu lauded the project objectives and pledged his unflinching support in ensuring that the project is successfully implemented in the Local Government.

COURTESY VISIT TO STAKEHOLDERS

During the month under review, the project team led by Mr. Ogbu Obinna (Baywood Foundation Program officer) paid a courtesy visit to the President Generals of Enugu East Local Government on the 9th of August. The Purpose of the visit was to officially brief the stakeholders on the YISAP Project and to get their commitment in reaching out to their various communities so as to win local popularity and interest among the youths in the local government. It is however worthy to note that the outcome of the visit was positive as the youths within the local government massively applied via the application link to meet the application deadline.

FOCAL GROUP DISCUSSION

Enugu East FGD was held on the 23rd of August 2021. We had a total number of ten groups involved in the discussion. Each group was made up of 5 persons, hence we had a total number of 50 participants. Two techniques were deployed in the FGD; firstly the participants were given forms to fill which gave the foundation full right to upload and make use of their pictures for the YISAP Project report; more so the participants were engaged in batch by a batch oral discussion which was thoroughly based on the need assessment of Enugu East LG vis-à-vis the outlined skills for the YISAP project implementation

The YISAP Project commenced in Enugu East LG with a mini opening session held on Tuesday 24th August 2021. The 200 participants of the YISAP Project were present at the event alongside representatives from the Local Government. The participants were given orientation about the project, training schedules, timetables, as well as what is expected of them during the period of project implementation. They also received their branded materials on that day. Barr. Ojielo Chukwudi(Baywood Foundation Country Director) in his opening remark, charged the participants to cease the opportunity to acquire lifelong skills that will make them responsible and productive in society. Lady Juliet Udeh(The head of admin/HRM of Baywood Foundation) in her goodwill message, thanked the stakeholders for believing in the project which is evident in the stress-free courtesy visits experience by the YISAP project team to the LG stakeholders. The SPA to the chairman who represented him appreciated the management of Baywood Foundation and Cocacola Foundation for including Enugu East LG among the LG of the YISAP Project implementation. He further pledged the chairman’s unflinching support and commitment towards the implementation of the YISAP Project in the LG.

The YISAP Radio is a monthly radio program, designed to create awareness about the project goals, objectives, and implementation plans, across the selected local governments of implementation.

The YISAP Radio was held on Friday, 24th September 2021. The guest speakers were Mr. Ogbu Obinna( Baywood Foundation Program Officer), Miss Okafor Chinwendu (Participant From Fascinator/Make-up Class), and Miss. Anekwe Chiamaka (Participant from Barbing Class). They spoke on the progress of the project so far in Enugu East Local Government. Specifically, Mr. Ogbu Obinna also used the medium to intimate the public about the project objectives, scope, and criteria for selecting participants. He also recounted the success stories in the previous Local Governments of implementation.

The two participants appreciated the effort made by both Cocacola Foundation and Baywood Foundation to initiate, fund and implement the YISAP project in Enugu East Local Government, which has availed them and other teaming youths the opportunity to become participants in the ongoing YISAP Project in the Local Government.

Miss Anekwe Chiamaka from the barbing class specifically noted that despite being the only female participant in the Barbing class, she has not been discriminated against by her colleagues in the class. This is because the training has availed her equal opportunity just like her male colleagues, to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge needed for her to start, operate, and manage a barbing shop.

Miss Okafor Chinwendu on her own part recounted her experience so far in the training and averred that she is enjoying every bit and moment of the training session as both resource persons in the Make-up and Fascinator class has been doing their best to ensure that the participants do not only acquire the skills but also are guided right to do their class and homework perfectly.