“This is my first time in entrepreneurship and this is also my first time in making perfumes and I am excited,” little 10-year-old Emmanuella Emmanuel says with pure delight. 

Like her peers, she participated in the Special Summer School Program at the Kuje Center in Abuja. There was a spark in her eyes while she and her five participants danced around a table showcasing their perfume creation. 

This display of entrepreneurial skills for kids highlights one of the many reasons why the Special Foundation Special Summer School Program continues to be a roaring success. It isn’t just about finding a place for kids to go during the holidays but ensuring that their innate desire to be creative is engaged while they are there. 

At Bridge International Academy, Ojo Center, it is a similar story. Over 100 out-of-school kids showed up daily with a gait in their strides as they attended classes. Mariam Daramola, the Manager of policy and partnership with the school, highlights how impactful the zero-cost summer school program is. 

“For education, it’s not just academics, it has to do with extracurricular activities, acquiring skills that can make them better in what they do in life,” she says.

This sentiment is seen across the other six centres where this Special Summer School Program took shape this year, hosting over 5000 children. Other centres include Mafoluku, Mowe, Ile Ife, and Ota. Our volunteers and facilitators across all centres echo their delight in seeing the positive response from kids within these communities. Some of the entrepreneurial skills kids gained during the program are:

1. Perfume making
2. Soap making
3. Baking and confectionaries 
4. Hairdressing
5. Bags making
6. Tie and Dye
7. Cooking
8. Tailoring
9. Coding
10. Photography etc. 

Kids are always excited for the opportunity to learn new things.

Do you remember how excited you were as a kid? Playing with your friends; the funny stories you could conjure from thin air or the many child-like inventions you would create. Kids are malleable enough to learn new life skills. All they require is an environment where they can learn by having fun. 

The Special Foundation seeks to harness that instinct within every child that gives them the boldness to pursue their dreams. All we need do, is provide the right environment and be there to guide them toward it. We welcome you to get involved and be a partner in this movement.

You can find more updates about the Special Summer School Program by the Special Foundation for 2024 by subscribing to our YouTube channel and newsletter. We welcome volunteers and partners. 

Remember:

Every Child Is Your Child. Every Child Has A Right To Dream