KA220-YOU- Redefining Ability: Empowering 500 Youth with Disabilities (PWDs) for Economic Inclusion in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria

Empowering 500 youth with disabilities in Osun State through vocational training, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion.

Project Title:

Redefining Ability: Empowering 500 Youth with Disabilities (PWDs) for Economic Inclusion in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria

Presented by:

Unique Salateey Humanitarian Assistance Foundation (USHAF Nigeria)

Project Type:

Erasmus+ Youth Capacity Building (ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB)

Location:

Osun State, Southwest Nigeria

Project Summary:

In Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, youth with disabilities (PWDs) face high unemployment rates, social exclusion, and economic barriers that prevent them from achieving independence and active participation in society. The Redefining Ability Project aims to empower 500 young PWDs through market-driven vocational skills, entrepreneurship training, and mentorship, ensuring their financial independence and social integration.

This initiative aligns with Erasmus+ priorities by promoting youth empowerment, skills development, disability inclusion, and EU-Africa cooperation in capacity building.

Project Objectives:
• Vocational & Digital Skills Training: Equip 500 youth with disabilities with practical skills in shoemaking, cosmetics production, agribusiness, and digital marketing.
• Business & Financial Literacy Development: Train participants in entrepreneurship, financial management, and business development to foster self-employment.
• Mentorship & Leadership Coaching: Provide confidence-building, community engagement, and advocacy training to empower participants as changemakers.
• Business Startup Support: Supply starter kits, business incubation support, and post-training follow-ups to help participants launch sustainable ventures.
• EU-Africa Knowledge Exchange: Facilitate cross-border collaboration and best practice sharing on youth employment and disability inclusion.

Implementation Plan:

Phase 1: Recruitment & Selection (1 month)
• Identify and recruit 500 youth with disabilities across Osun State through local community networks.
• Conduct needs assessments to tailor training to participants’ specific interests and challenges.

Phase 2: Training & Mentorship (3 months)
• Deliver intensive vocational skills workshops, business training, and financial literacy classes.
• Pair participants with mentors and disability rights advocates for personal and business development coaching.

Phase 3: Post-Training Support (6 months)
• Provide starter kits and business setup support for trained participants.
• Conduct ongoing mentorship, monitoring, and business scaling assistance.
• Promote EU-African knowledge exchange, sharing best practices for PWD economic inclusion.

Expected Outcomes:

✔ 500 youth with disabilities gain market-relevant skills and financial independence.
✔ New disability-inclusive businesses emerge, contributing to economic development.
✔ Greater social inclusion & reduced stigma towards PWDs in Osun communities.
✔ Stronger EU-Africa cooperation in capacity building and disability empowerment.

Looking for Partners:

USHAF Nigeria seeks EU-based NGOs, universities, and organizations with expertise in:
✅ Youth employment & skills development
✅ Disability inclusion & social enterprise
✅ Community empowerment & social cohesion
✅ EU-Africa exchange & policy advocacy

Why Partner with USHAF Nigeria?
• 13+ years of impact in grassroots disability inclusion & youth empowerment.
• Strong transparency, accountability, and results-driven implementation.
• Deep local networks across Osun State & Southwest Nigeria.
• Commitment to sustainable change & policy influence for PWDs.

This project has been viewed 147 times.

We're looking for:

4 more partners

from Germany, CAMEROON, Switzerland, Turkey, UGANDA, Partner Countries Neighbouring the EU

Deadline for this partner request:

2025-02-28

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Project overview

KA220-YOU- Redefining Ability: Empowering 500 Youth with Disabilities (PWDs) for Economic Inclusion in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria is a project by
Ushaf Nigeria

taking place
from 2025-05-15 till 2028-06-16

This project relates to:
Capacity Building

and is focusing on:

Anti-discrimination
Disability
Entrepreneurship
Integration
Unemployment/employability

This project can include young people with fewer opportunities like

Social obstacles
Economic obstacles
Disability

Target Group & Support Needed Who Are We Supporting? We are empowering 500 young people with disabilities (PWDs) in Osun State, Nigeria brilliant minds full of potential but often overlooked due to barriers that society places in their way. These are young people who dream of financial independence, who want to contribute to their communities, but who face unemployment, discrimination, and limited access to opportunities. Their challenges are real: • Many struggle to find jobs because employers assume they can’t perform. • Some have ideas but lack the skills or startup capital to bring them to life. • Others want to learn but are held back by inaccessible training facilities or materials. How We’re Supporting Them 1️⃣ Vocational & Digital Skills Training • We’ll equip them with practical skills in shoemaking, cosmetics production, agribusiness, and digital marketing, industries where they can thrive on their own terms. • Digital literacy will open doors for remote work and freelancing, breaking the barrier of mobility restrictions. 2️⃣ Business & Financial Support • We’ll train them in entrepreneurship, budgeting, and financial planning, so they can build businesses that last. • They’ll get access to microfinance opportunities, helping them turn skills into income. 3️⃣ Making Training Truly Accessible • Assistive devices (e.g., screen readers, mobility aids) to ensure no one is left behind. • Sign language interpreters, braille resources, and accessible training centers, because knowledge should be for everyone. 4️⃣ Mentorship & Emotional Support • We’ll connect them with mentors who have walked this path before, inspiring confidence and resilience. • Counseling sessions will help tackle self-doubt and the mental burden of societal exclusion. 5️⃣ Starter Kits & Post-Training Support • They won’t just finish training and be left to struggle, we’ll equip them with business starter kits, connect them with markets, and offer continuous guidance. This isn’t just about teaching skills, it’s about breaking cycles of dependence, building confidence, and giving young PWDs the tools to shape their own futures. With the right partners, we can turn barriers into stepping stones and ensure these young people are not just included, but truly empowered.

Short URL to this project:

http://otlas-project.salto-youth.net/17966