S.M.I.L.E President Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins at the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City USA to network with development experts, share ideas, learn new ways of improving our work and discussing solutions to global problems with colleagues who are passionate about changing the world.

Reunited… Bitter – Sweet

While visas continues to be a monumental challenge preventing youth from Nigeria from attending‪ international ‬conferences, we are consoled by the fact that this year our President, Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins was able to reunite and sponsor one of the S.M.I.L.E 2012 Change Champions,

Mission Accomplished !!!

A major goal for S.M.I.L.E at the 2019 International Youth Day event was to give more visibility to youth with disabilities and advocate for more developmental opportunities for them.

We are delighted that for the first time at our #YouthDayLagos event, we had 2 out of 3 panelists who are people living with disabilities – Mr Alaba Adefala, who is hearing impaired and President, Voice for the Deaf Foundation and Ms Ejiro Sharon Okotie, who is visually impaired and the Founder, Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth. Their session was loaded and very educative.

The past 4 days at our Summer Skill Acquisition & Digital Literacy Programme has been filled with so much fun, learning and empowerment.

It can only get better!

Empowering young hands with skills today for a better tomorrow.

Special thanks to our sponsor RCCG Jesus House DC, USA and our partners.

S.M.I.L.E…Building a better world, raising a new generation of leaders.

Special thanks to our seasoned speakers, Mrs Chinyere Tony-Eke, Founder The Blatz Train and Mrs Omolara Yeku, Founder Solution PRO for sharing invaluable insights on the importance of skills development; and understanding the role of hard and soft skills in preparing for the world of work and self-employment with over 166 youth and guests present.

Special thanks to our partners the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos and Lagos State Ministry of Education,

Dear NGO & Civil Society leaders & Youth passionate about changing the world, registration is open for the 68th UN Civil Society Conference holding from 26th – 28th of August, 2019 at Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America. Click link to learn more https://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/uncsc2019/registration
To register, visit https://reg.unog.ch/event/29010/

At the final module of the 2019 Young Leaders Mentoring Programme, our 70 Change Champions and 237 of their mentees from 14 public secondary schools, were enlightened about the imminent danger associated with cultism, sexual activities, alcohol and drug abuse.

With a generation of youth in search of identity, a sense of purpose and direction; yet under pressure from their peers, family, and friends to engage in risky behavior and health threatening activities, we cannot undermine the importance of empowering their minds with strategies to pull through.

S.M.I.L.E introduces the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the Change Champions on the 2019 Young Leaders Mentoring Programme during the second module of their leadership training.

Now it’s time for the Change Champions to take action, initiate SDG focused community development projects and exceed the 37 youth-led projects initiated by the 2018 batch of Change Champions.

Special thanks to our partners the United Nations Information Centre, Nigeria for facilitating the SDGs session.

Keeping the momentum on the transformational journey as the Change Champions learn critical tools and techniques to boost their self-esteem and self-worth as well as acceptable social behavior and how leaders should conduct themselves during the confidence building,