Welcome to GAP International
We are a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) established in January 2015 and registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in May 2022. GAP International is also registered with the UK Companies House for England and Wales in March 2021 as a Community Interest Company. It works with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies and various relevant networks of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Vision
A community where all disadvantaged and isolated young people, particularly single mothers/fathers and their children live an improved life and achieve their full potential.
Mission
To assist single teenage parents in navigating through challenges of poverty, ill-health, abandonment and other socio-cultural, religious and economic challenges facing them.
Our Core Values
Relationship
We believe that building effective relationships with partners (communities, donors and other stakeholders) is the foundation for efficiency and enduring results; thus, we value and build robust relationships.
Equality
We believe that all humans are equal especially in rights and opportunities and as such should be treated equally, in accordance with laws and customs.
Commitment
We are committed to removing the stigma associated with gender-based violence and abuse, premarital pregnancy and early motherhood and changing the disparity in gender preference as it relates to child grooming.
Accountability
We take responsibility in ensuring our dealings within the organization, with program communities and with our beneficiaries are rights-based and in the best interest of our program and GAP International. We accept ownership of our program outcomes while continuing to improve on our strategies.
Progress
Working towards the pursuit of the growth and development of the individual and the society.
Objectives
- To empower unmarried teenage mothers for self-development through social mobilization, economic empowerment and service provision.
- To provide support required to enable unmarried teenage mothers and fathers to continue formal education and skills acquisition.
- To design and implement various advocacy campaigns aimed at creating a conducive environment for young people, especially single teenage mothers and fathers to thrive and achieve their full potential.
- To initiate young male employability focused projects to eradicate gender biases toward the uptake of Health and Social Care courses in further and higher education.
- To undertake programs and mediation services aimed at reuniting unmarried teenage mothers with their families and supporting their reintegrating into the society.
- To sensitize local communities of the general plights of children of young single parents, especially their feelings of stigma and other forms of discrimination and disempowerment.
- To advocate and establish partnerships with support systems and provide referrals for child care and support services for children of unmarried teenage mothers and fathers identified for support.
- To contribute to reduction in National and international HIV/AIDS and other STIs prevalence through prevention, referral and treatment services for adolescents and young people.
- To bridge the knowledge gap around sexuality, contraceptives, consent, and early pregnancy through awareness activities for both young men and women.
- To increase awareness and stimulate actions of socio-cultural and religious communities towards reversing the social and psychological impacts of negative attitudes towards unmarried pregnancy
Strategies
We engage with governments at various levels to advocate for improvement of policies and procedures in favour of young people, women, especially young unmarried mothers and their children in various communities.
Our work with key social institutions such as churches, families and schools is tailored to:
- Deliver comprehensive sexuality education to young people, especially young women.
- Facilitate reorientation campaigns with the aim of eradicating culture and religion-based stigmatization, and all negative attitudes towards unmarried pregnancy and unmarried mothers
- Facilitate women-led sensitization campaign to inform women on the need for them to embrace contemporary discourses on gender equality
We work with young unmarried mothers and their families, churches and other social institutions to:
- Advocate for changes to economic policies and activities that exclude young women who become mothers outside of marriage
- Increase access to health and educational support
- Promote the rights of the girl-child to protection from exploitation, violence, neglect and all other forms of abuse
- Provide Psychosocial Support through counselling at home and during care-home and school visits
- Provide economic support through linkages to vocational skills training and micro-credit for unmarried mothers
We work with communities, government agencies and relevant social institutions to:
- Identify, enroll, educate and empower children of unmarried women
- Campaign for eradication of stigma on the children of unmarried young mothers with regards to the prevailing discuss around the concept of “bastard”
- Sensitize local communities of the general plights of children of young unmarried women, especially their feelings of stigma and other forms of discrimination and disempowerment.
We embark on key community-based studies to:
- Examine society’s understanding of sexual consent and rape and its impact on sexual decisions of young people.
- Explore the heterosexual journey of unmarried fathers from adolescence to adulthood and their experience of unmarried fatherhood and utilize findings for advocacy and education purposes.
Networks/Partnerships
Greater Life Initiative (GLI)
Association of OVC NGOs in Nigeria
ROSSY Foundation International Germany
Amongus International