This blog was taken from our 2025 Summer Intern Petra Sakwa’s final Davidson College presentation that reflected on her time and lessons learned in working with A2S.
Nonprofits really do have the wildest origin stories. The one I’m working with this summer, Access 2 Success (A2S), began with a simple shoe drive. A single donation sparked a grassroots movement, and 15 years later, that one act of compassion has grown into a thriving nonprofit serving Nigerian communities through health, education, and economic empowerment. It’s a story that reminds me how small gestures can spark lasting impact.
What drew me in was the vision in motion. It’s one thing to read a vision statement and another to watch it unfold in real time. I met Andrew Lovedale, the founder of A2S, two years ago, and his story stuck with me. He made compassion look so simple and easy, and that resonated a lot with me. I since knew that I wanted to, at least at one point in my life, contribute to the mission of his organization. A2S provides opportunity to Nigerian youth through dignity and the belief that every child deserves a future, a good plan that God has planned for them (Jeremiah 29:11). This organization focuses on equipping children and families with the resources they need to thrive, and that vision comes to life through summer learning programs, entrepreneurship workshops, cultural exchange, scholarships, medical outreach, and, yes, shoe drives.
My role this summer has been in communications and event planning, and let’s just say I’ve stretched further than I thought possible. I spend most of my days on Canva designing documents, brochures, and posters and editing videos for social media on Capcut and Inshot. I’ve also been reaching out to potential partners for our annual Missions Night as well as Soulful Supper, our biggest annual fundraiser coming up this fall (mark your calendars for September 20th). It’s been a learning curve: communicating with clarity, managing deadlines and priorities, and making sure our messaging is bold but mission-driven. I’ve learned that even a simple email requires strategy. And that video editing is equal parts patience and persistence. Safe to say, my comfort zone left the group chat.
A2S staff members at Missions Night in July 2025. From left to right: Liz Fetzer, Uche Ufochukwu, Laura Knight, Petra Sakwa & A2S Founder Andrew Lovedale
Zooming out, this experience has shifted the way I see the nonprofit world. I used to think of nonprofits as simply service, but now I understand they are driven by strategy, storytelling, soul, and the pursuit of justice. They rely not just on generosity but on grit, persistence, and collaboration. My biggest takeaway? Values matter. Passion matters. But so does professionalism, and the ability to bring both to the table is where the magic happens.
As I help prepare for Soulful Supper, I’m reminded that it takes a village to create change. We’re currently seeking auction donations, corporate sponsors, and anyone who believes in the transformative power of education and opportunity. If that sounds like you or someone you know, we’d love to have you on this journey. My biggest challenge of the summer is getting at least five auction items for the event. Help a girl out!
A2S Summer Intern Petra Sakwa sporting her A2S shirt on Davidson College’s campus.
Even if you don’t donate, I hope this story inspires you to look at nonprofits a little differently: not as charities, but as changemakers. For more information on A2S, please check out the website or instagram (and enjoy some of the videos I have created).
