YCW Nigeria – where there is education, criminality is not an option
By
Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. Today we talked to Casey
Olugbenga Adeleye, National Coordinator Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria Abuja,
Nigeria, to understand which strategies and programms YCW implements to
prevent youth criminality and how education is the key to a society where
criminality is not an option.
Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. Today we talked to Casey
Olugbenga Adeleye, National Coordinator Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria Abuja,
Nigeria, to understand which strategies and programms YCW implements to
prevent youth criminality and how education is the key to a society where
criminality is not an option.
How
was YCW founded and how many communities/schools joined YCW?
was YCW founded and how many communities/schools joined YCW?
Youth Crime Watch was
established in the year 2002 when over fifty young people came together to
address the growing rates of crimes, violence and drug abuse in the largest
city in West Africa, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
established in the year 2002 when over fifty young people came together to
address the growing rates of crimes, violence and drug abuse in the largest
city in West Africa, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The successful pilot
Youth Crime Watch program was located at St. Teresa’s College, Oke-Ado, Ibadan,
where it experienced much success. In the first year of the program’s
implementation, students helped to reduce their school crime problem. Equally
important was the change in the students’ attitudes. They were learning they
could make a positive difference. Students were reporting crime, saw positive
results and enjoyed significantly improved morale and school spirit. With these
results, the program spread to schools within the city such as George &
Duke International College, Yejide Girls High School, Ikolaba High School,
Ikolaba Grammar School, Bola Immaculate Group of Schools, Pislib High School to
mention but few.
Youth Crime Watch program was located at St. Teresa’s College, Oke-Ado, Ibadan,
where it experienced much success. In the first year of the program’s
implementation, students helped to reduce their school crime problem. Equally
important was the change in the students’ attitudes. They were learning they
could make a positive difference. Students were reporting crime, saw positive
results and enjoyed significantly improved morale and school spirit. With these
results, the program spread to schools within the city such as George &
Duke International College, Yejide Girls High School, Ikolaba High School,
Ikolaba Grammar School, Bola Immaculate Group of Schools, Pislib High School to
mention but few.
Our community programs
were successful as well as many students who participated in our school
programs returned home to share the experience with their parents and siblings,
this led to the establishments of Youth Crime Watch program in communities such
as Felele Community, Molete, Ikolaba, Bodija, UI/Ojoo, Challenge, Oluyole and
Apata Communities. This program spread to other States in Nigeria including but
not limited to Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo,
Rivers, Bayelsa, Kogi, Nassarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.
were successful as well as many students who participated in our school
programs returned home to share the experience with their parents and siblings,
this led to the establishments of Youth Crime Watch program in communities such
as Felele Community, Molete, Ikolaba, Bodija, UI/Ojoo, Challenge, Oluyole and
Apata Communities. This program spread to other States in Nigeria including but
not limited to Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Ebonyi, Kwara, Imo,
Rivers, Bayelsa, Kogi, Nassarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.
Youth Crime Watch of
Nigeria was registered as a Non-Governmental Youth Organization in 2003 to
support and continue the success of Youth Crime Watch by helping spread it
throughout Oyo State and across the nation. In July 2010, the United Nations
Committee on NGOs, i.e. Economic and Social Council granted a Special
Consultative Status to the Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria. YCW Nigeria is a
program of the African Centre for Citizens Orientation.
Nigeria was registered as a Non-Governmental Youth Organization in 2003 to
support and continue the success of Youth Crime Watch by helping spread it
throughout Oyo State and across the nation. In July 2010, the United Nations
Committee on NGOs, i.e. Economic and Social Council granted a Special
Consultative Status to the Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria. YCW Nigeria is a
program of the African Centre for Citizens Orientation.
Youth Crime Watch of
Nigeria brings youths of all backgrounds together to identify and correct
problems unique to their schools and communities. The YCW program empowers
youths to take an active role in addressing the problems around them. Youths
take ownership of their own YCW program for their school, neighborhood, public
housing site, recreational center/park etc. Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria (YCW
Nigeria) assists youths in developing youth-led programs which can encompass up
to nine key components that encourage “watch out” activities such as
violence/crime reporting or youth patrols and “help out” activities
such as conflict resolution, mentoring or mediation.
Nigeria brings youths of all backgrounds together to identify and correct
problems unique to their schools and communities. The YCW program empowers
youths to take an active role in addressing the problems around them. Youths
take ownership of their own YCW program for their school, neighborhood, public
housing site, recreational center/park etc. Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria (YCW
Nigeria) assists youths in developing youth-led programs which can encompass up
to nine key components that encourage “watch out” activities such as
violence/crime reporting or youth patrols and “help out” activities
such as conflict resolution, mentoring or mediation.
What
kind of trainings do you provide to schools and communities?
kind of trainings do you provide to schools and communities?
Youth Crime Watch of
Nigeria conducts national and local training that is tailored to the needs of
individual school, community, city and state sites. Professional, nationally certified
crime prevention practitioners conduct these trainings, which include: Implementation
Training which teaches how to establish the Youth Crime Watch program (curriculum component include: Youth Crime
Watch basics, Local Assessment, Youth/Adult Partnerships, Roles and
Responsibilities, Youth Crime Watch Key Components and Steps, Partners and
Resources); Training of Trainers: teaches how to train youth and adults to implement
Youth Crime Watch (curriculum component
include: How to conduct training for establishment and maintenance, Techniques,
procedures and challenges for implementing crime reporting and youth patrols
and Trainers’ Tricks of the Trade)
Nigeria conducts national and local training that is tailored to the needs of
individual school, community, city and state sites. Professional, nationally certified
crime prevention practitioners conduct these trainings, which include: Implementation
Training which teaches how to establish the Youth Crime Watch program (curriculum component include: Youth Crime
Watch basics, Local Assessment, Youth/Adult Partnerships, Roles and
Responsibilities, Youth Crime Watch Key Components and Steps, Partners and
Resources); Training of Trainers: teaches how to train youth and adults to implement
Youth Crime Watch (curriculum component
include: How to conduct training for establishment and maintenance, Techniques,
procedures and challenges for implementing crime reporting and youth patrols
and Trainers’ Tricks of the Trade)
Through our Youth
Leadership Conference young people develop leadership skill to organize and
lead their YCW Core Group, schools and communities. Other skills developed
include team building, crime awareness and reporting, crisis response,
conflict/anger management, goal setting, communication, including public speaking
and problem solving skills.
Leadership Conference young people develop leadership skill to organize and
lead their YCW Core Group, schools and communities. Other skills developed
include team building, crime awareness and reporting, crisis response,
conflict/anger management, goal setting, communication, including public speaking
and problem solving skills.
We also provides weekend
leadership retreat which is designed to motivate students in making their YCW
program a success while building teamwork skills and trust through
participation in enjoyable interactive activities. Curriculum components
include Youth Crime Watch philosophy, Goals and Techniques, Local Assessment, Action
Plan Development, Trust Building and Team Building skills.
leadership retreat which is designed to motivate students in making their YCW
program a success while building teamwork skills and trust through
participation in enjoyable interactive activities. Curriculum components
include Youth Crime Watch philosophy, Goals and Techniques, Local Assessment, Action
Plan Development, Trust Building and Team Building skills.
How
the society responded to your initiative? If people is likely to take part or
if there are resistances?
the society responded to your initiative? If people is likely to take part or
if there are resistances?
It was positively accepted
by young people and adult leaders when the idea of establishing of a Youth
Crime Watch program was publicized in Felele Community. At the inaugural
meeting, over fifty young people and eleven adult leaders including community
youth leaders were in attendance. This set the tone and direction the
organization will go and what problem(s) peculiar to our community the program should
addressed. These community leaders became the spark plugs of our program and
they used their wealth of experience to meet and discuss with school, community
and police authority which in turn built trust and acceptance wherever the
program is launched.
by young people and adult leaders when the idea of establishing of a Youth
Crime Watch program was publicized in Felele Community. At the inaugural
meeting, over fifty young people and eleven adult leaders including community
youth leaders were in attendance. This set the tone and direction the
organization will go and what problem(s) peculiar to our community the program should
addressed. These community leaders became the spark plugs of our program and
they used their wealth of experience to meet and discuss with school, community
and police authority which in turn built trust and acceptance wherever the
program is launched.
YCW program was very
much accepted and became a pride among school students and community youths and
a platform upon which students, youths and adult participants built their
leadership skills. Till today, there was no resistance either from the
community or local authorities or young participants. The good news is mails
were being received from within our State and beyond about young people who
want to join or want us to set up the program in their State or communities.
much accepted and became a pride among school students and community youths and
a platform upon which students, youths and adult participants built their
leadership skills. Till today, there was no resistance either from the
community or local authorities or young participants. The good news is mails
were being received from within our State and beyond about young people who
want to join or want us to set up the program in their State or communities.
What
have been the effects of the program on the youngsters involved?
have been the effects of the program on the youngsters involved?
The effect has been so
enormous, from the students who joined the program since inception in 2002 to
the adult that conducted and shared the responsibilities; we can look back and
commend ourselves. First and foremost, it gives opportunities to disadvantage
youths to become good citizens and share their community responsibilities. The
program has produced several university graduates and role models in Nigeria. On
Facebook, a whole lot of them use Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria as a place where
they’ve worked before. Not only that, they are responsible adults, gainfully
employed.
enormous, from the students who joined the program since inception in 2002 to
the adult that conducted and shared the responsibilities; we can look back and
commend ourselves. First and foremost, it gives opportunities to disadvantage
youths to become good citizens and share their community responsibilities. The
program has produced several university graduates and role models in Nigeria. On
Facebook, a whole lot of them use Youth Crime Watch of Nigeria as a place where
they’ve worked before. Not only that, they are responsible adults, gainfully
employed.
In the year 2006, the
program won the organization of the year awards and got a special consultative
status approval from the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2010.
YCW Nigeria is one of the 100 organizations that was selected and granted
approval as part of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition of the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a government
agency. Some of the leadership now consults for United Nations programs and
agencies in areas such as child online protection, crime prevention, science
and technology for development, cybersecurity, internet governance, climate
change and girls in ICT.
program won the organization of the year awards and got a special consultative
status approval from the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2010.
YCW Nigeria is one of the 100 organizations that was selected and granted
approval as part of the National Anti-Corruption Coalition of the Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a government
agency. Some of the leadership now consults for United Nations programs and
agencies in areas such as child online protection, crime prevention, science
and technology for development, cybersecurity, internet governance, climate
change and girls in ICT.
The program has helped
to mould and re-mould lives in our own little way and within the funds
available to us. Seeing young people and students who passed through the YCW
program excelling in their various capacities is a thing of joy. We can
categorically mention that we have changed the lives of over 20,000 young
people (directly) and more than 300,000 lives indirectly over the years and
still counting.
to mould and re-mould lives in our own little way and within the funds
available to us. Seeing young people and students who passed through the YCW
program excelling in their various capacities is a thing of joy. We can
categorically mention that we have changed the lives of over 20,000 young
people (directly) and more than 300,000 lives indirectly over the years and
still counting.
We have influenced
positively government policies on crime prevention, criminal justice system,
anti-corruption, ICT development, entrepreneurship, youth development, online
safety and host of other areas too numerous to mention.
positively government policies on crime prevention, criminal justice system,
anti-corruption, ICT development, entrepreneurship, youth development, online
safety and host of other areas too numerous to mention.
Do
you cooperate with local authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
you cooperate with local authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
To fulfill our vision,
it is compulsory and necessary for us to partner and collaborate with existing
authorities, institutions and individuals. So, we cooperate with local authorities
and institutions particularly the local police and other security agencies, the
Education ministry, Faith-Based Organizations (FBO), local Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Depend on the
program we are embarking on, we brainstorm on who and what institutions of
government we need to seek their partnership and collaborate with in order to
achieve the set goals of our programs. We write to institutions and officially
pay courtesy visits to different organizations to familiarize ourselves with
the authorities, opinion leaders and policymakers in achieving our common goals
and influence policies where necessary. It is a privilege to have started a
Youth Crime Watch program in Nigeria; it adds values to our youths, schools,
communities and the nation at large.
it is compulsory and necessary for us to partner and collaborate with existing
authorities, institutions and individuals. So, we cooperate with local authorities
and institutions particularly the local police and other security agencies, the
Education ministry, Faith-Based Organizations (FBO), local Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Depend on the
program we are embarking on, we brainstorm on who and what institutions of
government we need to seek their partnership and collaborate with in order to
achieve the set goals of our programs. We write to institutions and officially
pay courtesy visits to different organizations to familiarize ourselves with
the authorities, opinion leaders and policymakers in achieving our common goals
and influence policies where necessary. It is a privilege to have started a
Youth Crime Watch program in Nigeria; it adds values to our youths, schools,
communities and the nation at large.
