DOXA HOUSE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE - PROFILE

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE ORGANIZATION

PROFILE

NO 26, KUMSU HOTEL PLAZA, SABON PEGI SHABU, LAFIA NORTH DEVELOPMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA. E-mail: doxahouse.yeidi@gmail.com, Tel: +234 (0) 8037642349

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CONTENTS  Background……………………………………………………………………………………… 3 o Objectives………………………………………………………………………………. 3  Our Focus…………………………………………………………………………................. 4 o Vision……………………………………………………………………………………… 4 o Mission…………………………………………………………………………………… 4 o Core Values…………………………………………………………………………….. 4  Strategic Framework………………………………………………………………………… 5 o Strategic Direction…………………………………………………………………… 5 o Programmatic Approach………………………………………………………….. 6  Programmatic Spheres……………………………………………………………………….7 o In-School Interventions……………………………………………………………. 7 o Out-of-School/Employment Interventions………………………………. 8  Operational Mechanisms………………………………………………………………….. 9 o Partners & Partnerships……………………………………………………………. 9 o Consultancy……………………………………………………………………………… 9  Organization and Management………………………………………………………… 10 o Governance……………………………………………………………………………… 10 o Management……………………………………………………………………………. 10  Resourcing…………………………………………………………………………………………. 11  Sustainability……………………………………………………………………………………… 12 o Policies & Systems…………………………………………………………………….. 12 o Human Resources……………………………………………………………………… 12 o Monitoring & Review………………………………………………………………… 12 o Accounts & Audit………………………………………………………………………. 12 2

BACKGROUND The world is only about to conquer the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM) with huge investment in human and material resources following the devastating effect of these diseases on the human race especially in underdeveloped societies.

While greater efforts to overcome this menace seems to be yielding results, there arose a greater threat to a societal existence with the growing scourge of drug abuse and addiction especially among the youth population thereby reversing the gains recorded in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

The somber coincidence between the rising scourge of drug abuse and ATM is quite alarming and this has informed the need to join forces in tackling the problems of drug abuse and addiction especially among the youth population in the society.

The DOXA HOUSE, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria with RC No: CAC/IT/NO 118253, is a response to this challenge with the objective to contribute in the eradication of drug abuse in society and other challenges as they affect the participation of the youth, poor and marginalized in development processes.

OBJECTIVES The DOXA HOUSE has the following objectives to: I.

Achieve the empowerment of youth and society by promoting rights of the poor and marginalized, to quality standard of living, social security and human dignity.

II. Empower the youths through inclusive development and capacity building.

III. Engage and participate in and encourage charitable, benevolent, and other merciful activities towards, all men irrespective of their tribe, race, or creed.

IV. Engage in research and other knowledge based activities that will bring about the empowerment and inclusive development of youths.

V. Do all such other things as may be considered incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives or any of them.

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OUR FOCUS The DOXA HOUSE is a Social Development and Service Organization assuming a frontline position in the comprehensive and sustainable development of youth within the broad socio-political and economic context of local communities while operating within a global scope.

The Organization is specializing in the development and execution of custom-based and tailored empowerment initiatives with particular regards to youths and other marginalized groups in society.

Operating inclusively with the public sector, private sector and civil society, the expert affiliates with DOXA HOUSE are uniquely incorporated to render holistic value with a great degree of professionalism and sophistication. Our resource persons portray dynamism, bringing to bear formal training and years of experience with regards to every work.

VISION A world which the quest to contribute to the development of society forms the daily environment; with opportunities for active participation of the youth, poor and marginalized in development processes.

MISSION

To empower the youth, poor and marginalized in society through capacity enhancement, rights advocacy, research and mobilization for engendered social inclusiveness in development.

CORE VALUES       

Responsibility Responsiveness Respect Transparency Value Addition Partnerships Accountability

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STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK DOXA HOUSE Development Initiatives adopt a comprehensive strategy to sustainable youth empowerment and broader socio-economic advancement.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION The following represent the strategic orientation of DOXA HOUSE within its scheme of interventions:  Promoting rights and entitlements of poor and marginalized specially youth;  Advancing democratic decentralization and local self government;  Livelihood development of youth especially the poor in vulnerable areas;  Economic empowerment and employment generation;  Strengthening institutional management and the policy environment.

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PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH Integration of rights-based and service delivery Networking and strategic alliance-building Policy advocacy Capacity building Women-Youth-Child participation and inclusion Knowledge sharing

The DOXA HOUSE approach is bottom-up and holistic, focusing on individual behavior change amongst young people as well as systematic change in policy and practice towards a more supportive environment for youth-led development.

The Organization delivers grassroots programs in some of the most hard to reach and underserved areas. Leveraging the impact of volunteers, DOXA HOUSE is creating a network of young leaders, supporting them to progress in their careers and be champions of youth-led development.

The Organization also supports governments and policymakers to engage young people in the decisions that affect them. In addition, DOXA HOUSE builds the capacity of other organizations to work more effectively with and for young people.

DOXA HOUSE also produces research, toolkits, guidance and generate evidence to share our experience with the global youth sector to ensure we are serving youth in the most coordinated and impactful way possible.

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1. Civic Participation: young people and the broader youth sector are significant contributors to development processes, resulting in public policy and practice that both supports and is accountable to young people.

2. Livelihoods and Employment: young people are taking up productive livelihoods and employment opportunities that contribute to their household income and the economies of their communities.

3. Sexual and Reproductive Health: young people are making informed decisions and engaging in safe sexual and reproductive health practices that lead to healthy lives.

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PROGRAMMATIC SPHERES DOXA HOUSE focuses on the socio-economically disadvantaged groups of women, youth and children while keeping in view the overall socio-cultural fabric of the society and the overall power imbalances and discriminations that exist at all levels; the focus, amongst these groups, is again on most vulnerable and the marginalized ones.

DOXA HOUSE also focuses on the inclusion of minorities and special groups such as widows and physically challenged persons.

There is the sharp focus to eradicate substance abuse by young people and boost normative consciousness among in and out-of-school youths.

IMPROVING AND STRENGTHENING GUIDANCE ON DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION IN SCHOOLSThe following strategies are designed for enhancement of guidance to students in elementary, junior high and high schools, and as well, continuing efforts are necessary for boosting normative consciousness to eradicate illicit drugs among students. 

To provide guidance throughout educational activities at schools for betterment of drug abuse prevention education among school students, while making use of learning activities on physical education, health and physical education, moral education and special activities class as well as on period of integrated study class of interdisciplinary and comprehensive issues in the area of health which are shown as examples of guidance with supportive agencies of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

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To organize and provide “drug abuse prevention class” at least once a year at all junior high and high schools, with the cooperation of enforcement officers, narcotics agents, school pharmacists, for further improvement in guidance with supportive enforcement Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

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To prepare and distribute educational materials for students and teaching materials for teachers regarding drug abuse prevention, in order to enable school students to gain accurate knowledge of the harmful effects and hazards of drug abuse with supportive agencies for law enforcement, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

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To inform widely effective use of such distributed teaching materials and to promote closer coordination among related organizations on use of such materials.

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To improve seminars held by the national and sub-national governments, organized for effective guidance and improvement in teaching methods and to increase training opportunities to school teachers and drug abuse prevention class instructors.

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To conduct surveys and analyses on a regular basis, examining student awareness toward drugs, the state of drug abuse, in order to study the achievements made and issues involved in drug abuse prevention education.

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To strengthen information exchange on the state of drug abuse among young people and on the harmful effects and hazards of drugs at school-police liaison councils, and to boost closer cooperation between police and school officers and other related parties, including request for early contact whenever drug abuse is found.

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To promote greater awareness among students at universities and colleges, to prevent drug abuse, encouraging Universities to take opportunity of orientation and guidance programs at enrollment and prepare advocacy materials to be used on such occasions.

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To promote improvement in guidance regarding the harmful effects and hazards of cannabis, and synthetic drugs, taking into consideration the situation of local community and the stage of development of students.

STRENGTHENING AWARENESS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN/OUT OF SCHOOL/EMPLOYMENT

The following strategies are designed for young people in/out of school/employment, who account for a large part of young people arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses, in order to impart accurate knowledge on the harmful effects and hazards of drug abuse and to rehabilitate/implant consciousness not to abuse drugs any longer.

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To promote awareness of young people in/out of school/employment in labor-related organizations, youth labor-related organizations.

To promote awareness of drug abuse prevention among young people in/out of school/employment through street campaigns.

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OPERATIONAL MECHANISMS DOXA HOUSE operates accordingly with capacity building, campaigns, lobbying and policy advocacy activities usually undertaken jointly with the social organizations formed at local and national level platforms.

PARTNERS & PARTNERSHIPS Partnerships are the heart-line of DOXA HOUSE. The Organization works strategically within a circle comprising individuals, communities, and organizations and departments which join hands for extending program interventions.

Beneficiary community, the line departments, national and international donors, sub-national governments, and other key stakeholders from civil society are the best examples of DOXA HOUSE Partners.

These partnerships help the organization (financially and technically) to achieve its mission and are driving it through to achieving its endearing vision.

DOXA HOUSE remains privileged in getting the opportunity to work with a number of diverse partners who not only extend financial support for various projects; but also adequately champion and build the capacity of the Organization from different perspectives.

DOXA HOUSE greatly values and acknowledges the support of its partners who provide their great support to the Organization for its current projects.

BUILDING CONSULTING SYSTEMS BY RELATED ORGANIZATIONS The following measures are within the framework of DOXA HOUSE to improve counseling systems and enabling swift and accurate response.

- To further strengthen cooperation among consulting organizations so as to promote the best possible action for young people.

- To promote active use of consulting organizations through boosting public awareness of consulting services.

- To make improvements in various workshops and seminars and enhance the quality of counselors with expertise in juvenile issues with specialized knowledge such as psychology.

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ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT DOXA HOUSE is a standard-type social development and service organization operating within comprehensive context as a non-government, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, non-partisan Organization.

The Organization is working for social development of vulnerable and less developed people with keen efforts on the appreciation of youth. It is a human-centered NGO and an implementing agency which designs and implements various developmental projects with the financial and technical support of donor agencies and the government.

GOVERNANCE DOXA HOUSE is governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board is the key policy-making and governance body of the Organization and works independently.

It formulates and approves policies and organizational systems and evaluates the overall performance of DOXA HOUSE on periodic basis.

The Board which comprises of development professionals, intellectuals, academicians, activists and media persons is headed by its Chairperson.

The Coordinating Executive serves the Board as the secretary and ex-officio member. The Board works with the guidelines of the Board Policies Manual.

MANAGEMENT DOXA HOUSE is led by its Coordinating Executive who presides over executive functions of the organization.

The Coordinating Executive reports to the Chairperson of the Board and is responsible for the overall management of the organization.

The Coordinating Executive is supported by the Managers of Programs and Admin/Finance, and a team of coordinators, development managers and officers, all of whom jointly form a formidable management structure of the Organization.

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RESOURCING DOXA HOUSE implements its projects and programs with the grants / funding and general support from various interests at local, national and international levels.

The support and grants are usually time-bound and for specific project interventions. DOXA HOUSE ensures transparency and accountability in managing support from diverse donors and interests, and the Organization has well developed a strong financial management culture.

The Organization’s policy of inclusiveness, involves the active participation of all key stakeholders – particularly the local communities or program beneficiaries.

Fair efforts are taken to ensure that stakeholders participate and contribute at all stages of the interventions.

As its strategy, DOXA HOUSE particularly focuses to ensure the maximum participation of women, children and youth wherever required and relevant – and particularly if the program has any direct or indirect impacts on their lives.

The overall approach of work also identifies the gender sensitivities if any related to the program and strategically addresses the same.

DOXA HOUSE, as its overall implementation approach, takes carefully into account the local culture and traditions and fully respects the same.

The following are the key elements of DOXA HOUSE Program Strategies & Work Approach with particular regards to resourcing:         

Thematic Partnerships Social Mobilization /Community Participation Awareness Raising & Sensitization Capacity Building Dialogues & Engagements Research & Publications Networking & Coalition Building Advocacy & Lobbying Review & Reflection

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SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES & SYSTEMS DOXA HOUSE follows its specific set of policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) consistently being developed, revised and updated in order to make them more staff friendly, people and Organization-centered.

DOXA HOUSE is consolidating on the following manuals of policies: - Manual of Human Resources and Administrative Policies - Manual of Financial Policies These manuals contain a number of basic organizational policies and procedures which help in the creation and maintenance of a transparent, accountable and fair working environment in DOXA HOUSE and ensure the effective achievement of overall objectives of the DOXA HOUSE HUMAN RESOURCES DOXA HOUSE has a core team with various professional backgrounds such as in management, finances and HR. In addition the DOXA HOUSE outsources project staff as and when required. The Organization also engages volunteers and interns on need basis.

MONITORING & REVIEW Monitoring of projects in DOXA HOUSE is always the important and priority matter. There is always a built-in mechanism of review and monitoring for all the projects DOXA HOUSE implements.

The processes of review and monitoring help Organization in achieving the project objectives in smooth and timely manner. As the key mechanism of monitoring, the projects are monitored by the implementation teams; the coordinators / managers of the program and the management of DOXA HOUSE. ACCOUNTS AND AUDITS DOXA HOUSE is developing and consolidating various financial policies, systems and formats well as specific working tools which help it in effective management of all its resources and proceedings, and maintaining a complete transparency in receipts and payments at all levels while maintaining a flexibility culture of adapting into financial management systems of its financing partners.

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