TOWARDS ACHIEVING A BETTER EDUCATION (A PRAGMATIC APPROACH)

DEBATE TO ACTION
{A Millennium Development Goals' Awareness Creation Project}
NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS,BRITISH COUNCIL AND WORLD BANK INSTITUTE

COLLABORATION ON DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

DEVELOPMENT IN MY COMMUNITY
{ Community Development Service Project Outline}

CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this project titled: TOWARDS ACHIEVING A BETTER EDUCATION { A PRAGMATIC APPROACH } is originally carried out by the millennium development goals' youth corps members agbara zone under the leadership of the following corps members:
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President MDGs CDS Group CDS Group Agbara Zone. Zone. Vice President MDG Agbara

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Secretary MDG CDS Group Agbara Zone

It has been examined and approved for acceptance by the following authorities:

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................................... ALAGBARA OF AGBARA DATE

.................................... NYSC Local Government DATE Inspector

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........................................... ..................................... Local Government Chairman DATE

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..................................... Agbara Industrialist Association DATE

LIST OF ACRONYMS
NYSC National Youth Service Corps MDGs Millennium Development Goals MDC Millennium Development Club

NEEDS National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy DTA Debate To Action NGOs Non-governmental Organisations CBOs Community based Organisations BC British Council

WBI World Bank Institute CDS Community Development Service

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Development in my community is a secondary project intended to increase development knowledge at the grass root level. This project is designed to enable participant think locally and act globally , thus becoming employers of labour and wealth creators. Our primary project is already in progress. This includes establishment of guidance and counselling unit in the secondary schools around our community. We have been visiting different secondary schools to offer career talk to students as well as educate them on the millennium development goals and how they can be a part of it.

We sincerely look forward to establish a mutual and long lasting relationship as we work with you in a more informal and collaborative manner.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

In view of the constant decline in Nigerias educational sector, it has become imperative to revamp the sector completely the MDG'S a group of practical-oriented youths have decided to take the bull by the horns. Ours is to embark on an intensive programme geared towards achieving a far-reaching goal in the secondary institutions

around our community.

Our overall aim is to combine our effort with those of governmental authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of our community and integrate these communities into a life of the nation, thereby enabling them to contribute their own quota to national progress. As a way forward, we have established an organization called "millennium development club". The MDC as the name implies is a child born out of the MDG to foster growth and development in the educational sector within our community and Nigeria at large. We have thus been able to achieve the following: (A). Establishment of guidance and counselling unit (B). commencement of skill acquisition and job training programmes We acknowledge and appreciate the key role NESTLE is playing as the major food and beverage industry in our community and Nigeria at large which is why we seek your support in embarking on this project. we are also aware of NESTLE'S commitment with
respect to its customers providing them safe products, respecting the existing legislations and which at the same time, satisfy highest requirements of Quality. MDG is a nationally coordinated framework of action in close collaboration with the world bank,british council and other stakeholders to re-establish the educational sector and attain Nigerias long-term vision of universal primary education by 2015.MDC builds on the progress and contribution of corps members achieved so far thus ensuring a systematic and more organized form of activities among MDG youth corps members. We have all undergone an intensive training programme and as such we are adequately prepared to handle this project effectively.Ours is to embark on an intensive programme geared towards achieving a far-reaching goal in the secondary institutions around our community.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Debate to Action {DTA} highlights a system and uniform approach in the actualization of the NYSC DTA program objectives.

This project is aimed at the empowerment of the student to acquire skill and knowledge that would prepare them for the world of work. The DTA training focuses on the acquisition of relevant knowledge and the sharing of same to target audience. It is therefore a competent based training with great emphasis on knowledge sharing and reflection. Participants will receive training in the following areas mentioned below. -Painting and decorating -painting and sign-writing -horticulture -fumigation and pest control -shoe repair/cobbler -pomade making/soap making -modelling/acting -baking/confectionery -hair dressing -tailoring -cloth/basket weaving
-bead making Students who benefit from this programme will be given due consideration and their names will be sent to the office of the millennium development goals { MDGs } for certification.

Other key areas that are designed to bring about a happier and healthier living of the student will not be left out. They include: (a). Sex education (b). Child care (c). Sports (d). Drama, music and dance, debate This training will last for a period of at least 10 weeks. Our goal is to facilitate the development of excellence in all aspects of the student's well-being. Our task will be to inform,

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

enlighten, and educate the minds of the students to put into good use their complete mental and emotional capabilities in acquiring knowledge. Our objectives is expressed in behavioural terms with clarity of purpose as described below: 1. Providing personal, social and career counselling to promote students emotional, health and adjustment in school, and intelligent career decision and plans. 2. Collecting occupational and educational information and making them available to students regularly and in a wellstructured classified manner as well as developing the idea of job families. 3. Keeping and maintaining personal cumulative data records on each student in the school 4. Providing group counselling in the classroom setting over subjects like self-discipline responsibility, value classification, sex education, relaxation techniques, appropriate use of leisure, qualities of leadership etc. 5. Identifying and nurturing the talented and gifted students. 6. Assisting students in planning programmes of educational and vocational training consistent in their goals 7. Identification of students with problem who cannot cope academically with the pace of class. 8. Consulting the principals and teachers over students academic problems and classroom behaviour problems, and helping students resolve academic difficulties in different subjects on the school curriculum. 9. Consulting with parent or guardians with the principal's support over students personal and emotional problems that are family based 10. Conducting annual orientation programmes for new students as well as periodic orientation for the senior students.

11. Promoting career education through organised visits to industries, institution of higher learning and through guest speakers on careers days and career club meetings. 12. Conducting local research and communication of development of academic and professional interest to guidance and counselling section of the Federal or State Ministries of Education 13. Writing of annual report to be forwarded to the guidance and counselling section of the federal or state ministries of education through the school principal. Unfortunately, education in Nigeria does not have any link between knowledge and morals, but rather it emphasises more on knowledge and power and sort of makes it equivalent. This should not be the case as talent can only take an individual far but more importantly it takes humility and discipline to climb the ladder of life successfully. The Guidance and Counselling unit will equally concentrate on instilling discipline and educating the student to imbibe the culture of handwork, humility and respect. COMPETENCE DTA/MDGs volunteer corps members are dynamic,enthusiastic and energetic graduates from institutions of science and technology,humanities and social sciences. They are practically-oriented youths that have been professionally trained in different areas of human endeavour. All these virtues of knowledge, skill and awareness coupled with an innate disposition are being channelled towards achieving the goals of the MGD/NEEDS in our community and Nigeria at large. Therefore we are 100% competent in executing this project in line with goals of MDG/NEEDS. TARGET
Currently we have 50 students and we hope to enrol more. The students were drawn form different secondary schools around our community. Other interested members who are not student will also benefit from this exercise.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Due to the demanding nature of this project,we are being confronted by two important and pressing issues that can hinder the progress of this project.

They include: 1. Availability of training venues.

2. Provision of funds and materials to facilitate training

We humbly request for your support in these areas so that we can achieve this collective goal of developing our community and Nigeria at large.

METHODOLOGY

Since this project has a real life and everyday implication,training will therefore employ methods that are totally participatory,encourage critical thinking skills,and make maximum use of experience. The primary method of this program will include discussion and community research on the part of the participants .However,wherever possible, efforts will be made to include additional method and resources in other to achieve a more effective, interesting,and successful training. Additional method and resources include:
a. Role play b. Games c. Drama e. Film shows

f. Brainstorming
g. Field trip h. Case study

Trainers will ensure to revise the use of appropriate material as well as develop specific methodologies indigenous to the community.

EVALUATION 1. weekly activities will be documented in my community weekly summary sheet. participation will be registered using attendance records. At the close of the training,reports will be collated. such report will include the following: a. Number of participants b. Summary of activities held
All reports will be sent to British Council headquarters and World Bank Institute WBI schedule officer.

CERTIFICATION
At the end of the training exercise, all existing participants will be officially inducted into the Millennium Development Club {MDC}and presented to the community by means of a letter of introduction upon completion of their training program to mark the transition from DEBATE to ACTION.The names and qualification of students that

will benefit from this program will be sent to the office of the MDGs.

Credit facilities will be given to student that are willing to set up their own business vis-a-vis training received. Students that wish to continue this process will be responsible for training other would-be debate to action members. After the completion of the training,their names will be forwarded to the appropriate authority for certification. The process continues. ASSOCIATIONS, CLUBS, LINKAGES
Beneficiaries of this project will build linkages with other clubs and associations that can themselves pass on information on the MDGs and NEEDS. Linkages will also be establish with NGOs and CBOs in the community especially those that can serve as a point of continuity.

Needed Resources
Equipment/Supplies/Communication Be careful in listing the equipment that will be needed for your project. Funding sources are usually much more willing to provide funds for the support of personnel than they are to support the purchase of equipment (that may or may not directly benefit the funded project). The following are the types of equipment that may be needed for a funded project: tape recorder (for recording interviews, dictating reports, etc.) video cassette recorder and television monitor (for recording project activities, documenting change, etc.) computer/monitor/printer (for general project support) desks/chairs/tables lamps intercom/office telephone system telephone conferencing equipment photocopy machine sticky notes, paper clips, or pencils/pens Personnel (salary and benefits), Consultants (salary), Instruction, Equipment, Supplies, Communication (telephone/postage) ,Materials preparation,Travel,Rental of facilities, Evaluation Other expenses

Indirect costs (costs that your organization requires that you include)