FONEYO

FONEYO offers workshops, seminars, and social events that are designed to encourage young people to see themselves as "the leaders of tomorrow". The goal is to urge them to strive to lead exemplary lives in society following graduation from secondary school. Workshops have focussed on themes like taking up a hobby and acquiring a skill, health, youth leadership, and bolstering self-confidence.

Common messages or goals running throughout FONEYO initiatives include:

• inculcating good moral values as a guide to behaviour
• helping young people (especially disadvantaged young people) find temporary or vocational employment
• getting young people involved in charitable activities like donation to orphanages, volunteer work, and national festivals

Networking is a strategy used to increase programme impact. Over the years, FONEYO has collaborated with schools, as well as with other non-profit organisations including Girls Power Initiative (GPI), Network of Individuals Concerned For Education (NICE), REACH Initiative, National Youth Council Of Nigeria (NYCN), International Association for Volunteer Efforts (IAVE), and Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation (TAHF). FONEYO also works with organisations that work to help children who are disabled or mentally or physically ill, as well as some orphanages. Examples include the Little Saints Orphanage, PEDANET, Oronsaye Reformatory Centre, Edo State Underprivileged Scholarship Fund, Project Charilove, and Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation (TAHF).

Children, Youth.

In Nigeria, the gap between the time students finish their West African Senior Secondary exams (WAEC) and the time they begin university education is usually one year. In this time, some young people become very bored, thus making them vulnerable to the influence of their peers. Despite good upbringing, some young people engage in drug deals, prostitution, smoking and drug abuse, smuggling and armed robbery, and the like.

FONEYO is registered as a voluntary youth outfit with the Federal Ministry of Information, Youths and Sports in Edo State. The Motto of FONEYO is "No Child's Case is a Hopeless One". FONEYO consists of a board of trustees, executive board members, and ordinary members. A constitution enables collective decision as agreed by the members of the board. Majority vote carries the day on any issue voted upon.

Although FONEYO has collaborated with many NGOs and has received invitations from the local government to present papers on youth matters, such as HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, and the like, the organisation has never been funded to organise its own projects. Although largely self-sustaining, some organisations have sponsored its seminars and conferences. Young members are interested in organising exchange programmes involving young Nigerians and young people from other countries.