Founder's Note
Inspired by the prevalent rates of crime, poverty and teenage redundancy that I witnessed as a teenager in Ibadan, I founded Teens Going for Gold Network in 2012 with the invaluable help of a group of friends. It started as a learning community to inspire teenagers to invest time and effort in learning skills that can stand them out in the 21st century. It is amazing to see how it has evolved into an organization that provides underserved teenagers with practical tools to improve their employability and increase their relevant in the 21st century.
Teens Going for Gold Network is a development initiative that educates, inspires, and empowers disadvantaged and under-served teenagers to become financially self-reliant and socially conscious individuals. We achieve this with the instrumentality of our week-long summer programme known as Project Teach a Teen, the Project Inspire school tour, our dedicated learning community and publications. Our ultimate goals and objectives are to contribute to reducing the rates of crime, poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.
Managed and driven by a dedicated body of volunteers, the organization’s vision is to become the foremost organization of reference in teenage education first, in Nigeria and then in other countries of West Africa, most especially in Sierra Leone and Senegal where plans are already under-way to start up teenage projects and programs.
The Teach a Teen program
Though it officially took on the name Teach a Teen in 2017, the Teach a Teen program started in 2016. It is both a campaign and a series of training projects designed to develop the entrepreneurial, financial, vocational and leadership capacities of secondary school students across Nigeria.
The Teach a Teen program also features the #TeachATeen campaign which advocates for a system and culture of education that meets up with the changes, challenges and needs of the 21st century focusing on financial education, enterprise education, Global Citizen Education and Skill development.
Project Inspire
It is our annual conference where social reformers and trained teen mentors are invited to speak to participants on different issues like ethics, self-esteem, and stepping up to pace with the digital world.
With the TeenAchiever bulletin, which features a teenspiration column, teenagers are inspired and educated on how to contribute positively to the society. Over 1000 copies are published and distributed to teenagers free of charge. Online copies are also available for download.
Through our projects and publications, we have directly reached 15,884 teenagers across Nigeria and through our education advocacy campaigns, we have reached 2,950,000 teenagers, young adults and stakeholders. It has been the most fulfilling journey so far and I believe that the future holds more things in store for Teens Going for Gold Network! I hope you will join us to make a change.
VISION
With the ultimate goal of reducing the rates of crime, poverty and unemployment; Teens Going for Gold Network’ vision is to become the foremost organisation of reference in 21st century teenage education first, in Nigeria and then, in other countries of West Africa.
MISSION
With the instrumentality of our projects and publications, we have the mission to;
* inspire, educate and empower teenagers across Nigeria to become socially conscious and financially self reliant.
* develop the business, leadership and vocational aptitudes of teenagers.
* advocate for a system of quality and inclusive education that can sustain development with the #TeachATeen campaign.