Walk the Talk Project for Youths and the Disabled

Thanks to the Walk the Talk initiative, Mr Bode (a young adult living with a physical disability from birth) is also a beneficiary of last year’s walk the talk initiative. The initiative has helped him to get the support he need to start his shoe-making business regardless of being crippled on a wheelchair.

The Aim: This project is aimed to bridge the gap between social inclusion awareness, and taking the required action steps. Our main focus is skill empowerment for employability and financial sustainability.

Walk The Talk initiative is deeply rooted in the “doing” (taking the necessary steps) and not just “talking” about social inclusion (by making policies and holding long meetings) but seeing to it that these policies are undertaken, and worked on. It is normal and recurrent in communities like Araromi- Ejigbo in Lagos, Nigeria that entrepreneurs and small business owners are mostly empowered, Leaving out the youths, especially, young people with disabilities (PWDs). This is why at starsteps for inclusion uphold our values by designing a system to empower them with skills, like the production of hand-made bags, Afrocentric notepad designs, textile designs with coaching, close supervision for the next 6months and partnership with local markets. They will be empowered with resources to start-up their own business for sustainability purpose.

Our vision: Is to empower youths and Persons with disabilities with employable skills, through coaching, mentorship, outreach and advocacy campaigns, while helping them leverage their unique abilities.

Our Mission: Is to raise a generation of people who see social inclusion of youths and persons with disabilities as a norm, viewing disability not just from a “medical” angle but from a “socio-economic” point of view, therefore making themselves available to be impacted, creative and productive.

$10 covers the training fee for 1 individual with Disability (for the duration of 1month).
$15 covers the skill training fee for 3 youths for a month.
$30 covers the skill training fee for 6 persons with disabilities and youths for 4months.
$50 covers the skill empowerment for 9 youths and PWDs for 4months
$75 covers the skill training for 12 youths for 4months
$100 covers stipend for 3 facilitators & 3 coaches for 4months
$150 covers for training materials, logistics and operations for a month ($600 for 4 months).

Your generosity can rewrite the story of these youths and special individuals. Walk with us!! Donate today and make an impact.

Project Updates

We’ve Launched! See Your Impact in Action

We are incredibly excited to share that we have officially started implementing the Walk The Talk Project, all thanks to the generous support you’ve given us so far!

On April 28th and 29th, we hosted our very first intensive training sessions. It was an energetic, productive, and deeply moving two days. Here is exactly what you helped us accomplish:

Day 1: Laying the Foundation

We brought together 20 passionate individuals (12 participants, 4 staff members including our Head Coach, and 3 volunteers).

The Launch: Our Convener and Project Manager, Miss Esther Chidinma, opened with an overview of our core initiative, Starsteps For Inclusion.
Skill Building: Led by our resource person, Miss Chioma Chiamaka, participants dove headfirst into the theory and practical procedures of Afrocentric Notepad Design.
Community: Between intense learning blocks, we shared a lunch break, kept energy high with mental “mood check” icebreakers, and closed out the day preparing for the next big challenge: bag making!

Day 2: Hand-Crafted Success!

Day 2 saw our numbers grow to 25 inspired participants—and the results were incredible.

Zero Machines, Pure Skill: Without using a single machine, our participants used their hands to craft 5 beautiful, complete bags from scratch!
Equipped for the Future: Every participant went home feeling fulfilled, taking with them official certifications and sustainability packages/kits to help them continue practicing their new craft.

The Journey Continues: How You Can Help Us Next

“We are building a system that actively includes youths and special individuals in our communities.”

While this first milestone was a massive success, our work is far from over. To keep this momentum going, we need your help to fund our next two crucial steps:

Running our community-wide Social Inclusion Campaign.
Organizing a dedicated classroom workshop for the caregivers of persons with disabilities.

Can you help us take the next step? Please share our campaign link with 3 friends today, or chip in what you can to help us empower more lives.

Thank you for walking the talk with us