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| Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash |
Imagine a world not too distant from our own, where the shadows of conflict cast a pall over communities. Amid this turbulence, educators and visionaries emerged as storytellers, crafting a narrative where classrooms became sanctuaries, not merely for the transmission of knowledge, but as spaces for understanding, healing, and unity.
By Nwachukwu Nkem
Since 2018, Strong Enough Girls' Empowerment Initiative (SEGEI) has been working with Stephanie Apel as a Co-Convener of the Purple Ball, an event that brings women together to celebrate themselves and their achievements and also provide mentorship for each other.
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| Photo by Peace Alberto Iteriteka on Pexels |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its journey. With the largest youth population globally, the potential for transformative change is boundless. These young Africans are the torchbearers of their nations, poised to steer the continent toward a brighter, more prosperous future.
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| Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels |
Lesson 12: Cyberbullying Awareness and Mental Health Support
In an increasingly digital age, the twelfth lesson for young African youth is a call to raise awareness about cyberbullying and prioritize mental health support.
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| Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 11: Drug Avoidance and Violence Prevention
In an era where African communities grapple with the consequences of drug abuse and violence, the eleventh lesson for young African youth is a resolute call to avoid the pitfalls of substance abuse and to champion non-violence.
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| Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 10: Resilience and Adaptability
The tenth lesson for young African youth is a call to embrace resilience and adaptability as essential life skills. In a world marked by uncertainty and rapid change, the ability to bounce back from adversity and adjust to new circumstances is paramount.
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| Photo by Khyta on Unsplash |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 9: Leadership and Responsibility
Leadership is not about titles or positions; it is about influence, impact, and responsibility. The ninth lesson for young African youth is a call to embrace leadership with a strong sense of responsibility and ethical integrity.
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| Photo by Joslyn Pickens on Pexels |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 8: Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is a skill that empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their money, and it is the eighth lesson for young African youth. In a rapidly changing economic landscape, this skill is essential for personal financial stability and well-being.
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| Photo by Laker on Pexels |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 7: Gender Equality
Gender equality is a fundamental human right, and the seventh lesson for young African youth is a call to champion this cause. Africa, like the rest of the world, has made significant strides in advancing gender equality, but there is still much work to be done.
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| Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels |
Lesson 6: Environmental Stewardship
Africa's breathtaking natural beauty, from its majestic mountains to its lush rainforests and pristine coastlines, is a source of wonder and pride. The sixth lesson for young African youth is a call to embrace environmental stewardship as a moral and practical imperative.
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 5: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The ability to innovate and create is a priceless asset. The fifth lesson for young African youth is a call to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation as potent tools for personal and societal advancement.
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| Photo by Josh Couch on Unsplash |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 4: Critical Thinking Matters
Critical thinking is a mental toolkit that every young African should sharpen. It is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information, and it is a skill that underpins informed decision-making, problem-solving, and innovation.
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| Photo by Baim Hanif on Unsplash |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 3: Education is Empowerment
Education is often described as the key to unlocking your potential, and for young Africans, this lesson is a fundamental truth. It is a call to embrace the transformative power of knowledge and to recognize that education is not merely a path to personal success but also a catalyst for societal progress.
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| Photo by Liz Martin on Unsplash |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Lesson 2: Preserve Indigenous Knowledge
A major lesson for young African youth is a call to preserve and cherish indigenous knowledge. Embedded within the customs, rituals, and wisdom of Africa's diverse communities is a wealth of insights and understanding that have sustained societies for centuries.
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| Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash |
By Adetayo Adetokun
Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its journey. With the largest youth population globally, the potential for transformative change is boundless. These young Africans are the torchbearers of their nations, poised to steer the continent toward a brighter, more prosperous future.
By Ruth Ajawu
Shades of Us attended the 9th edition of the Future of Health Conference on October 12, 2023.
The Future of Health Conference is a yearly gathering hosted by Nigeria Health Watch, and this year's theme was a game-changer. Nigeria Health Watch has come a long way since its first health conference in 2015, where the discussion centred on Universal Health Coverage. Over the years, they have delved into diverse topics, from ‘Health Meets Tech’ in 2016, to ‘The Business of Health’ in 2017, the ‘Diaspora as Nigeria's Brain Gain’ in 2018, ‘Quality in Healthcare’ in 2019, ‘Innovations in Health’ in 2020, ‘The Political Economy of Health’ in 2022 in anticipation of the 2023 elections. This year, the spotlight was on ‘The Private Sector as a Catalyst for a Resilient Health System’.
Highlights from the Nigeria Health Watch Solution Journalism Africa Initiative Close-out Event
Are you ready for us to take you on a journey that culminates in the Nigeria Health Watch Solution Journalism Africa Initiative Close-out event? Buckle up and get ready for a recap of this momentous occasion that celebrated the power of solutions-focused storytelling.
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By Cynthia Umeh
Interviewer: Did you attend The Sunshine Series' Annual Mental Health Symposium?
Shades of Us: Yes! We not only attended, we were partners and screened our short film at the event.
Interviewer: Why was it important for Shades of Us Storytelling Initiative for Africa and People of African descent (Shades Of Us) to be present at this symposium?
Shades of Us: We were present because it is a valuable opportunity for us to contribute to the discourse on mental health, collaborate with stakeholders, and use the power of storytelling to advocate for improved mental health support in African communities and for individuals of African descent.
Now let us take a comprehensive and fun journey through the key moments of this remarkable event.
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| Photo by Mélissa Jeanty on Unsplash |
By Cynthia Umeh
World Toilet Day, observed on November 19, serves as an annual reminder to focus on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aimed at providing clean water and sanitation to all by 2030. The theme for 2023, 'Accelerate Change,' underscores the need for urgent and determined efforts to overcome the challenges hindering global access to clean water and sanitation.
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| Film Enthusiasts at the Film Hangout in Abuja |
By Marire Adebanjo
Every last Saturday of every quarter, Film Rats Club organizes a hangout for film enthusiast in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. On October 28, 2023, ‘I Am Not A Witch’ was screened. This hangout was anchored by Tobi Marho and was held at the Hearts Heartist Creative Centre.
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| Shades of Us at the 2nd Annual Mental Health Symposium |
Happy new year!
We are thankful for the journey we had in 2023. We grew as an organization: literally and metaphorically. There were strides we made in the past year that were beyond our wildest expectations and it took the hard work of our dedicated team (Sadiya, Cynthia, Atinuke, Adetayo, Eneojo, Ruth, Marire, Naomi, Vivian, Our technical advisors, Members of the board, and our Founder), support systems, partners, and the reception of our audience to get to this place today. We are thankful for former team members (Ifeoluwa, Safiya, Grace, Nwachukwu, Jeremiah, Vanessa, Emono, and Tzar), whose contributions remain invaluable to us.
Here are some of the achievements and failures we are most thankful for in 2023.
Lightning Talkat the Solutions Journalism Africa Summit in Abuja Reflections from the SoJo Africa Summit 2025 By Simbiat Amzat The SoJo Afri...
