One teenager, one skill project
One Teenager, One Skill Project
Short website summary
The One Teenager, One Skill Project was designed to empower adolescents with practical skills, creativity, entrepreneurship, and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. Working with local schools, faith communities, and community stakeholders, New Dawn Foundation introduced teenagers aged 12–18 to creative problem-solving, commercial bead making, and the production of reusable sanitary pads as a response to period poverty.
The project combined entrepreneurship education with menstrual hygiene management and sexual and reproductive health education, equipping 120 adolescents with practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to become innovative problem-solvers and future contributors to their communities. Through hands-on learning and group activities, participants explored how creativity and practical skills can create opportunities for income generation and personal independence.
Focus Areas: Youth Empowerment | Entrepreneurship | Sexual and Reproductive Health | Menstrual Hygiene | Life Skills
Project Overview
The One Teenager, One Skill Project is a youth empowerment initiative implemented by New Dawn Foundation to equip adolescents with practical entrepreneurial skills, creative thinking, and essential life skills. The project combines entrepreneurship education, sexual and reproductive health education (SRHR), and menstrual hygiene management to help young people become confident, innovative, and self-reliant.
Implemented in collaboration with schools, faith communities, and community partners, the project empowers teenagers with practical knowledge and hands-on skills that improve their well-being while preparing them for future economic opportunities.
Background
Many young people in Cameroon complete their education with limited exposure to entrepreneurship, innovation, and practical problem-solving. At the same time, many adolescent girls lack access to accurate information on sexual and reproductive health and are unable to afford menstrual hygiene products, contributing to absenteeism from school, poor menstrual health, and reduced self-confidence.
Recognizing these challenges, New Dawn Foundation designed the One Teenager, One Skill Project to nurture creativity, encourage entrepreneurial thinking, and provide adolescents with the knowledge and practical skills needed to make informed decisions, generate income, and lead healthy, productive lives.
Project Objectives
The project aimed to:
- Introduce teenagers to entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Develop creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Build practical income-generating skills among adolescents.
- Promote sexual and reproductive health education.
- Improve menstrual hygiene knowledge and practices.
- Teach participants to produce reusable sanitary pads as an affordable and environmentally friendly solution to period poverty.
Inspire young people to become confident, responsible, and self-reliant members of their communities.
Project Activities
During the one-week programme, participants took part in interactive learning sessions that combined theory with practical demonstrations.
Activities included:
- Entrepreneurship and innovation workshops.
- Creative group exercises using locally available materials to design practical solutions to everyday problems.
- Team presentations where participants explained their ideas and demonstrated their problem-solving abilities.
- Practical training in the production of commercial hand-crafted beads for income generation.
- Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education sessions.
- Menstrual hygiene education, including menstrual cycle awareness and healthy hygiene practices.
- Practical demonstrations on producing, cleaning, drying, and safely reusing environmentally friendly reusable sanitary pads.
The training encouraged active participation, teamwork, creativity, and practical learning throughout the programme.
Target Beneficiaries
The project targeted:
- Adolescents aged 12–18 years.
- Learners from primary and secondary schools.
- Young people from local faith communities.
- Teenagers from vulnerable and low-income households.
Results and Impact
The project directly trained 120 adolescents over a one-week period.
By the end of the programme:
- All participants had been introduced to entrepreneurship and creative problem-solving.
- Participants successfully designed and presented innovative solutions using locally available materials.
- Every participant learned to produce commercial hand-crafted beads with the potential to generate income.
- Participants demonstrated practical knowledge of producing reusable sanitary pads using simple materials.
- Adolescents gained improved knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, menstrual health, and personal hygiene.
- Girls were empowered with practical, low-cost solutions to manage menstruation with confidence and dignity.
Beyond the technical skills acquired, the project encouraged participants to see themselves as innovators capable of creating opportunities rather than waiting for them.
Partnerships
The project was implemented in partnership with:
- Girls Excel
- Community Organisation for Youth Development (COYOD)
- Community leaders
- Local schools
- Faith-based institutions
These partnerships strengthened community participation and ensured that the programme reached adolescents in safe and supportive learning environments.
Project Location
Location: Buea – South West Region, Cameroon
The project was delivered through schools, community spaces, and faith-based institutions within local communities.
Sustainability
The One Teenager, One Skill Project equips young people with practical skills that remain valuable long after the training ends. Participants can continue producing handcrafted beads for income generation and reusable sanitary pads for personal use, reducing household costs while promoting environmentally sustainable menstrual hygiene practices.
By embedding entrepreneurship, creativity, and life skills at an early age, the project lays the foundation for a generation of young people who are innovative, self-reliant, and equipped to contribute positively to their communities.
Looking Ahead
New Dawn Foundation plans to expand the One Teenager, One Skill Project to reach more schools, faith-based institutions, and communities across Cameroon. Future editions will introduce additional vocational and digital skills while strengthening entrepreneurship education, leadership development, and adolescent health programming. Through strategic partnerships, the Foundation aims to empower thousands more young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to transform their futures.
Project Highlights
- Duration: One week
- Location: South West Region, Cameroon
- Direct Beneficiaries: 120 adolescents
- Age Group: 12–18 years
- Focus Areas: Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Sexual and Reproductive Health Education, Menstrual Hygiene Management, Income Generation
- Partners: Girls Excel, Community Organisation for Youth Development (COYOD), Local Schools, Faith-Based Institutions
Here’s a professional Project at a Glance section that you can place at the beginning of the project page.
Project at a Glance
Item | Details |
Project Name | One Teenager, One Skill Project |
Project Duration | One-week intensive training programme |
Location | Limbe – South West Region, Cameroon |
Implementing Organization | New Dawn Foundation |
Project Status | Completed |
Target Beneficiaries | Adolescents aged 12–18 years from schools, faith communities, and vulnerable households |
Direct Beneficiaries | 120 adolescents |
Focus Areas | Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation, Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (SRHR), Menstrual Hygiene Management, Life Skills Development |
Key Skills Taught | Entrepreneurship, Creative Problem-Solving, Commercial Bead Making, Production of Reusable Sanitary Pads, Menstrual Hygiene, Sexual and Reproductive Health Education |
Implementation Approach | Interactive workshops, group problem-solving activities, practical demonstrations, hands-on skills training, and peer learning |
Key Partners | Girls Excel, Community Organisation for Youth Development (COYOD), Local Schools, Faith-Based Institutions, Community Leaders |
Key Outcomes | 120 adolescents trained in entrepreneurship and life skills; participants gained practical skills in bead making and reusable sanitary pad production; improved knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and menstrual hygiene; strengthened creativity, confidence, and problem-solving abilities. |
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 5 – Gender Equality; SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities |
Key Achievements
- 120 adolescents trained in entrepreneurship and life skills.
- 100% of participants learned how to produce commercial hand-crafted beads.
- 100% of participants acquired practical skills in making reusable sanitary pads.
- Improved knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, menstrual hygiene management, and financial independence.
- Enhanced creativity, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills through hands-on innovation exercises.
- Promoted environmentally sustainable menstrual hygiene practices through the use of reusable sanitary pads.
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