The Beyond the Classroom Foundation has launched ReIGNITE Girls Project 3.0, a transformative leadership and empowerment initiative designed to equip adolescent girls with the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to thrive both in school and in life. This new phase of the program will be implemented in four secondary schools in Karu, FCT, and is set to reach over 100 girls through interactive leadership and mentorship sessions.
The launch was combined with a Volunteers and Facilitators Onboarding Session on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, in Abuja, bringing together dedicated educators, mentors, and youth volunteers. The session provided training on facilitation techniques, safeguarding, and the program’s core objectives, ensuring that all facilitators are fully prepared to guide the girls through the ReIGNITE journey.
Speaking at the onboarding, Raquel Kasham Daniel, Executive Director of Beyond the Classroom Foundation, emphasized the importance of empowering girls at this critical stage of their education. She noted that ReIGNITE Girls Project 3.0 is not just a series of workshops, but a platform for girls to discover their potential, build self-confidence, develop leadership skills, and learn to make informed choices about their lives. She also highlighted that volunteers and facilitators play a central role in creating a safe and encouraging space where the girls can grow, explore their dreams, and gain tools to overcome challenges.
ReIGNITE Girls Project has grown through three impactful phases.
- ReIGNITE 1.0 was implemented in Guzape Kpadamu community, reaching 20 girls with mentorship and foundational leadership skills at the community level.
- ReIGNITE 2.0 targeted girls living in vulnerable conditions at the Karamajigi IDP Camp in Abuja, providing access to empowerment, learning, and support for displaced girls.
- ReIGNITE 3.0 moves the initiative into secondary schools in Karu, enabling a larger number of in-school girls to benefit from leadership training, confidence-building activities, and personal development sessions.
Through a combination of workshops, mentorship sessions, and practical leadership exercises, participants will learn to:
- Communicate effectively and confidently
- Set personal and academic goals
- Make informed decisions
- Build resilience and self-awareness
- Become leaders in their schools and communities
The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony in January 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Education, celebrating the girls’ achievements and their journey toward leadership and self-empowerment.
Inspiring Girls and Grassroots Networks for Inclusive and Transformative Education (IGNITE), the overarching project funding ReIGNITE, is supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). This 36-month initiative seeks to amplify the voices and agency of feminist-led civil society organizations and adolescent girls, challenging gender norms that limit girls’ participation in education. IGNITE promotes social inclusion and the empowerment of girls, working in partnership with organizations including the International Rescue Committee, the Rene Moawad Foundation, and the Urgent Action Fund-Africa.
Through ReIGNITE 3.0, Beyond the Classroom Foundation continues its mission to empower girls, strengthen communities, and create spaces where every girl can learn, lead, and thrive.
