A nongovernmental organization, the KayodeAlabi Leadership and Career Initiative (KLCI)is set organise the Skill2Rural Boot Camp in August. It said the programme is to address limited opportunitiesfor students in rural communities and empower them to be problem solvers. According to the World Bank, learningshortfalls during the school years eventually show up as weak skills in theworkforce. “Children born in rural communities facestarkly different life prospect because of the kind of environment theyinherit,” a statement signed by KLCI Executive Director on Monday read. “They lack access to quality education due topoverty, lack of technological and 21st century education, poor teachers andmentorship.” The group targets the Olambe – MatogunCommunity, Ogun State Nigeria for the 2019 edition of the Boot Camp. Skill2RuralBoot camp started in 2018 with a mini grant received from Peace First inpartnership with One African Child and had empowered 90 students between theages of 9 – 17 years and 11 teachers. Itis a 2 day non-residential boot camp and intensive programme where civilsociety organisations are partnered to orientate, empower and support childrenin rural communities with 21 century skill training such asempathy, servant leadership, emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking,and collaboration needed to integrate into the workforce and prepare them forthe future of works. Students,teachers, youth educators and volunteer through the Boot camp work in groups toco- create prototypes and innovative solutions to problems they are facingwithin their communities using design thinking. Theyalso go through series of lectures on specific topics such as vision boarding,money management, servant leadership, philosophy and value system,sustainability, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship and computerappreciation. Closeto the end of the Boot camp students pitch their prototypes to panel of judgesand parents as well as outstanding students are awarded. Students are alsoequipped with skills and supported to create an Education for SustainableDevelopment (ESD) clubs in their schools to train other students as well ascontinue to work together to create more prototypes to problems they facewithin their communities. Thelast boot camp included young professionals as facilitators. Among them were theDirector, One African Child, Victoria Ibiwoye; Carrington Youth Fellow, ToluwanimiAfolayan; the Founder, Volunteer Teachers Club, Taiwo Abdulrosheed; a Presenterat Hi Impact TV, Olusegun Oluwaseun; and the Founder of Farmignite, Toheeb Abdulsalam. 10prototypes were co-created by the students and teachers. Prototypes includesolar driven innovations, mechanized farms, skill acquisition centre, drainagesystem, primary health care centres and mobile clinics. Students use materialssuch as cardboards, gums, scissors, cutting knives, markers, sticky notes andother available materials in the environment to create the designs andprototypes. The 2019 edition of the Boot Camp holds between 22nd and 24th August. “Activitiesof the Boot camp can be tracked using the hashtag #Skill2Rural. This year wewill be empowering 100 participants, 90 students and 10 teachers in Matogun –Olambe community and they will be creating solutions to the problems they face.” “Alsowe already lined up great speakers who will be inspiring and raising a newgeneration of changemakers.” MrAlabi invited individuals and corporate bodies to partner with the KLCI in its aspirationof raising the next generation of changemakers in under-served communities.