Welcome to the 13th Annual Youth Leadership Retreat!

The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos Youth Wing, initiated the Annual Youth Leadership Retreat in 2009 to create a network of civic-minded young leaders dedicated to the theme "Youth Inclusion Through Volunteering." We believe that young people can and should serve as positive change agents in society. Consequently, we work with young individuals who serve as community reformers, artists, environmentalists, volunteers for civic initiatives, and those who have demonstrated a strong interest in developing leadership skills and a commitment to community service.

In addition, the program focuses on students because they possess the right mixture of maturity and impressionability. Students are old enough to understand the challenges they face as young adults in a developing country and can be readily inspired and motivated to become change agents. Instilling these skills and values at a young age provides an ample opportunity to work towards the positive change we desire to see in Nigeria.

•OBJECTIVE OF THE RETREAT

Promoting positive youth development through good governance, entrepreneurship, motivation, and mentorship programs.

Specific Objectives are;

•Promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations in youth development.

•Stimulating and accelerating socio-economic development through informed and active youth participation in governance and policy formulation.

•The 13th edition of the retreat aims to exchange good practices from various countries and regions that have successfully addressed youth unemployment challenges and enhanced the productive capacities of young people through innovative measures such as policies, strategies, and institutional reforms, including collaborative efforts with young people.

•Providing a platform for youth to engage in dialogue with various stakeholders to explore solutions for creating an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future.

•Building on the International Year of Youth, we aim to enhance the visibility of youth issues, particularly the exceptionally high youth unemployment rates amidst the current global economic situation.

•The 13th edition of the retreat aims to draw increased attention to youth unemployment and to identify the roles of governments, civil society, the private sector, and young people in providing sustainable solutions.

•Proposing a comprehensive list of actions for governments, the international community, civil society, the private sector, and youth to effectively address youth issues within the current global economic context.

•Identifying challenges, existing gaps, and critical areas requiring special attention.

•Recommending appropriate actions to be undertaken by various stakeholders to address these challenges and gaps effectively.

This project stands out due to its implementation strategy, which prioritizes multi-stakeholder partnerships involving the public and private sectors, civil society (NGOs), and cooperating partners. The Youth Leadership Retreat places a strong emphasis on self-discovery among young people, helping them uncover their natural talents, skills, and interests. It encourages them to take proactive steps towards personal, community, national, regional, and global development. Moreover, the retreat aims to empower youth to recognize and position themselves as leaders capable of driving positive change in Nigeria, Africa, and the global community both now and in the future.

In the last five editions of the retreat, we have partnered with the United States Consulate, Lagos, LEAP Africa, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to train a total of 2000 youths aged between 12 and 35 years.