A Decade of Promise
In 2020, we made a commitment to evolve as a social enterprise, setting goals to broaden our impact and become a more sustainable organization. We are using the talents of our staff, entrepreneurs, and local community to create self-sustaining revenue-generating endeavors that will support the grassroots operations of our organization.
You are the Seed
When you support our Season of Promise, you are planting seeds that our family in Nigeria can nourish and bring to life. New buildings and plots of land are rooting us firmly in the community, creating room to serve more individuals and be a source of hope for so many local families.
Make a promise today.
Did You Know?
In many Nigerian households, children as young as 8 years old are asked to figure out ways to help generate income for their families.
Phase I:
A2S Youth Center
In 2022, we opened a 20,000 square foot Youth Center in Benin City, our first permanent location in our history. This building enables us to serve 300 youth at our After School Academy as well as advance our
entrepreneur, workforce development, and community outreach programs. The Youth Center houses a Dignified Giving Center, a large event space for internal and external use, and a crèche for our mothers on staff. We also purchased an additional plot of land for future development during Phase I.
Phase 2:
OWA Center
In 2024, we are kicking off a capital campaign for the A2S Opportunity, Wellness, and Advancement Center — the OWA Center. Owa means home in the Edo language, the local dialect in Benin City. This center will serve as a hub for our career development and athletic programs. A key feature of the building will be three basketball courts where our Basketball + Empowerment Camps will take place. There will be a Smart Hub and an entrepreneur co-working space inside the OWA Center.
Phase 3:
Revenue Generation
Our first two phases allow us to generate outside revenue from space rentals; this final phase is about creating jobs that meet needs in the community. We are currently exploring vocational training opportunities to pilot in the coming years. Our goal is to provide skills training that can immediately put community members to work in for-profit businesses that help fund our A2S programs. This training can also be coupled with our entrepreneurial training to spark new local businesses.
Seeds Are Blooming
Theodore, Gideon, Pamela and Andrew lost their father at an early age, and their mother could no longer afford to send them to school.
With nowhere left to turn, Mrs. Aghahowa learned about A2S through Gospel Ministries International Church and applied to enroll her children. Theodore, Gideon and Pamela graduated from the A2S After School Academy to the A2S Scholars Program. Andrew is currently an After School Academy kid.
Theodore, the oldest child, graduated from university and has started his own fashion design business, Terrera Apparel. Theodore applied for and won a grant through the A2S Entrepreneur Empowerment Program to help scale his business.
Gideon, as an electrical engineering student, installed the CCTV cameras and solar panels in our Youth Center. He now contracts jobs around Benin City. Both boys are very active in the A2S community and spend time volunteering with our current After School Academy kids. Pamela is working hard to get her degree in statistics.
Mrs. Aghahowa is a huge advocate for A2S in the community and has volunteered with us for years. She now works at our Youth Center as a Sanitarian.
The Aghahowa family is just one of many examples of how A2S has changed the lives of the children and youth in our programs. Your promise has the power to make a difference for many more youth.
