To create a sustainable world where peace and justice thrive, all individuals must acquire values, relevant skill-set, and heightened awareness (UNESCO 2014). This is why the Sozo Networks was founded in 2015 in response to the anticipated youth bulge in Africa to empower youths with the skills and knowledge required to combat critical challenges facing their communities. Sozo networks is a youth-led non-profit organization that promotes the participation of young people in leadership and development in Nigeria. We help them to develop competence for active citizenship and leadership. Our theory of change includes providing support to young leaders and strengthening youth-led initiatives through 3 thematic areas – Education, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship.
- Youth Education: We bridge a significant loophole in the nation’s education system by offering mentorship and alternative educational opportunities that allow young people below the age of 20 to develop essential skills for active citizenship, leadership, and career in the 21st-century society and workspace.
- Youth Leadership: We raise young social change leaders through a 5 phase approach (DCDES) that helps them to discover their vision and needs, develop self, create solutions, engage with communities to test the solutions, and finally pass on impacts to others.
- Youth Entrepreneurship: We promote entrepreneurship by teaching on social entrepreneurship and design thinking.
We implement the above by providing educational support, experiential training, volunteering opportunities, mentorship, hands-on experiences, and idea incubation programs. Our alumni network has evolved into a strong ecosystem of young social change leaders, collectively and individually providing solutions to some of Nigeria’s most critical problems through civic leadership and entrepreneurship.
