Ipaja Community Link
Ipaja Community Link is DIFN’s main Nigerian partner established in 2002 and situated in Ipaja, Lagos State.
Ipaja Community Link aims to be a holistic community based organisation which can be replicated in any part of Nigeria on request.
Click here to view the latest Ipaja Community Link leaflet
Since its new strategic development plan ICL’s main focus of work is:
Job Creation
[1] Ipaja Skills Acquisition Centre [Already funded for 3 years – By Christian Aid]
To train 200+ local trainees from Alimosho LGC each year in the main areas identified in the local needs assessment carried out last year.
These will be:
Tie & dye / batik making
Basic sawing and dress making
Hat making
Local jewellery making
Soap/ insect repellent / toilet cleaner making
Basic cooking and baking / cake making
Basic ICT training
Desk top publishing
Digital photography
Working with Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA skills training will also be available in the area of local fish farming.
The target group for the above training will mainly be ICL’s client group being:
PLWHA [mainly women]
Members of local women groups and young mothers
Local youths and school leavers
Training for this group will be provided for free or at a highly subsidised rate.
We will also work with local unemployed graduates of institutes of higher learning and local under employed youth who want to learn a craft. Training for this group will be provided in the evenings at low not for profit charges.
[2] Ipaja Youth Volunteer Programme [already been funded by VSO International]
ICL is to provide some local secondary school leavers life skills training, ICT skills and basic craft skills training.
In return they volunteer 1 to 2 days helping to run some of ICL HIV/AIDS / community health awareness programmes and also helping to run our weekly OVC programmes.
They will also help organise and run local youth focus community development programmes such as; sport events, youth theatre, youth journalism and peer facilitation training in constructive conflict resolution for youths.
At the end of the 1 year programme participants will either be assisted in setting up their own small business or helped to establish a small community volunteering programme.
[3] Ipaja Entrepreneurship Centre [Now actively looking for funding as ICL want to establish this centre by October 2008 to compliment Ipaja Skills Acquisition Centre & Ipaja Youth Volunteer Programme]
The centre will provide on going Business development support to all our trainees and other members of the local community ensuring that all self employed businesses have a solid chance of success.
Regular workshops will be provided in the areas of:
General entrepreneurship and business start ups
Developing business plans
Bookkeeping and basic accounts
Sales and marketing
Business Finance & Taxation
These workshops will be provided by ICL staff [Small Business Advisors].
Workshops will also be provided by a team of volunteer Business Mentors drawn form the local business and academic community as part of ICL’s new community volunteer initiative. These volunteers will also act as business mentors to some of the trainees on a 1 to 1 basis.
[4] Ipaja Youth Apprenticeship Programme [Planned to start for mid 2009 – to be funded from a DIFN campaign aimed at UK based Nigerian individuals and organisations]
ICL aims to place 100 to 200 unemployed youth with local artisans / craft persons as apprentices. Each receiving artesian / crafts person will receive a training grant and the apprentice will receive a transport subsidy. Each apprentice will receive training for a maximum of 2 years. Some prospective apprentices may also be sent to local Lagos State Technical Colleges.
NB: ICL will work in partnership with the new micro finance banks established in Alimosho LGC to ensure that our trainees from all the 3 programmes of ICL Job Creation Initiative will be provided start up finances on the completion of their skills training.
Ipaja Community Link also provides:
· Children & Family Programme. Working with vulnerable and orphaned children and family members ensuring that poor children and families are assisted in improving their socio-economic circumstance.
Community Health Education [including HIV/AIDS work]. ICL works closely with the local council to provide health education to members of the local community. ICL also trains young people to become Sexual Health Peer Educators
Teacher Training. ICL provide capacity building training to both public school and community private school teachers in the areas of Child-to-Child Health Education programme; Living Values Education Programme. We are soon also going to provide on going professional development training in areas such as curriculum development and classroom learning techniques.
Capacity Building Training. ICL also runs regular capacity building training for local council staff, community development practitioners and faith group leaders focusing on community development and local governance issues.