02/10/2025
Day 2
Picture Speaks...
The Clean Camp Heroes Project Training hosted by the Mental Health for Youths Initiative and funded by the European Union through the Youth Empowerment Fund under the Global Youth Mobilization through partnerships from Federal Ministry of Youths Development - The Minkasi Rural Development for Women and Youths Initiative - Aid for Sustainable Public Health Initiative - and Mind Innovation and Health Reform Africa created a rising hope.
When we think of IDP camps, we often focus on urgent needs, food, shelter, and safety. Yet, one silent crisis that continues to affect displaced communities is waste management. Piles of unmanaged waste do not only harm the environment; they also compromise dignity, health, and mental well-being.
That’s why the Mental Health for Youths Initiative (MHYI) designed the Clean Camp Heroes Project, to show young people that caring for their environment is also caring for their minds. Over the past days, we trained and inspired youths across Abuja IDP camps to become Clean Camp Heroes, equipping them with knowledge on waste management, advocacy, and community mobilization.
List of Abuja IDP Camps in attendance:
♀️Kalmajiji
♀️ Durumi
♀️Wassa
♀️ Malaysian Garden
On Day 2, something powerful happened: the participants began to share openly how they would take these lessons back to their camps. They spoke about leading by example, teaching peers, and ensuring their spaces remain clean and safe. Their reflections reminded us that youths are not just beneficiaries of aid, they are powerful drivers of change.
Clean surroundings reduce stress, improve mental health, and restore a sense of dignity and hope. By merging waste management education with mental health advocacy, the Clean Camp Heroes Project is building resilience from the ground up.
This is just the beginning. we are empowering young people to take charge of their environment and their well-being.
