In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, HeadsUpAfrica organized a series of empowering activities across Lagos, successfully reaching over 200 girls through yoga and self-defense training. Funded through crowdfunding campaigns and supported by Golden Penny, which provided essential products, this initiative aimed to equip young girls with resilience, confidence, and practical life skills.
The event began at Pottersville Primary School, where around 30 students and teachers participated in a yoga session. This segment focused on introducing mindfulness techniques designed to help the young girls manage stress and enhance their focus. A teacher from Pottersville shared, “Yoga has the potential to positively impact our students’ well-being,” emphasizing the importance of mental health practices for children.
Following the yoga session, the activities transitioned to Fred Williams Memorial School in Iju, where nearly 100 girls took part in a self-defense training led by karate instructor Esther Ofigberi. This training provided foundational self-defence skills, empowering the girls to feel more secure and confident in their daily lives.
The overwhelming interest in the self-defense sessions prompted HeadsUpAfrica to extend these activities to five additional schools within the Osborne School Complex, allowing over 100 more girls to benefit from the program and amplifying its impact.
Erimoroti Motolani Aransiola, the founder of HeadsUpAfrica, highlighted the significance of these initiatives: “Through yoga and self-defense, we are helping young girls build both physical and mental resilience. We’re grateful for the support from our donors and for the products donated by Golden Penny, which made this event possible.”
Participants expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to learn valuable skills that can help them navigate their environments safely. Many girls noted how the training boosted their confidence and provided them with essential techniques for personal safety.