Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
18
Project title
The Exceptional Child Club
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
The Exceptional Child Club (TEC) is a monthly mentorship club in Nigeria for children aged 7 to 17. It helps them discover their potential through career and life skills, creative arts, leadership mentorship, counselling, and education, with groups designed for each age range.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
The spark came when I noticed that my community has clubs for youth, women, and men, but nothing for children. Children are at the age where guidance matters most, yet they have no regular space to discover their talents, ask questions, or learn from mentors. That was my "Aha!" moment. If a child's potential is recognized early, it can shape their whole future. I began designing a club where children aged 7 to 17 could explore careers, creative arts, leadership, and personal growth, with each age group (Juniors, Explorers, and Leaders) getting guidance that fits them. I believe it can succeed because the need is clear and the idea is simple: give children a safe, regular place to grow and be seen.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Children in my community lack structured spaces where they can discover their potential. Adults and young people have clubs and networks, but children are often left without mentorship, career exposure, or emotional support outside the classroom. Many never get the chance to develop their talents, build confidence, or talk to someone about how they feel. This matters to me because early guidance shapes confidence, choices, and opportunities later in life. When children have no direction or support, talent goes undeveloped and potential is wasted. The Exceptional Child Club addresses this gap with a monthly program covering career and life skills, creative arts, mentorship and leadership, counselling, and education, helping every child feel supported, capable, and seen.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
The Exceptional Child Club (TEC) is a structured mentorship club that meets every last Saturday of the month at 11:00 AM. Children aged 7 to 17 are placed in three age groups so the guidance fits their stage: TEC Juniors (7 to 10), TEC Explorers (11 to 13), and TEC Leaders (14 to 17). Each session draws on five program areas: Career development and life skills, including entrepreneurship, so children learn what they can become and how to start building it. Talent and creative arts, including music, so children can discover and practise their gifts. Mentorship and leadership, where children are guided by role models and learn to lead. Counselling and emotional wellbeing, giving children a safe space to talk and be heard. Education, communication, and personal development, to build confidence and speaking skills. The club is built on a simple idea: regular, age-appropriate guidance helps children discover their potential early. Older children in the Leaders group can mentor younger ones, which builds leadership while extending the club's reach
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
TEC is at an early stage, so I will describe the impact I am working toward. I expect children to gain confidence, discover talents and career interests, and learn communication and leadership skills. Over the first year, I plan to hold monthly sessions, grow membership across all three age groups, and track progress through simple feedback from children and parents, such as confidence, participation, and skills learned. I also expect the Leaders group to begin mentoring younger members, creating a cycle where children grow into role models for others.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
Most programs for children focus on one thing, such as academics, a single talent, or a school club. The Exceptional Child Club combines five areas in one program: career and life skills, creative arts, mentorship and leadership, counselling and emotional wellbeing, and education and personal development. What makes it different: Age-based structure: Juniors (7 to 10), Explorers (11 to 13), and Leaders (14 to 17) get content that matches their stage. Whole-child focus: Confidence, emotional health, and entrepreneurship are treated as seriously as academics. Leadership pipeline: Older children mentor younger members, so children become role models for others. Fills a real gap: There are clubs for youth, women, and men in my community, but this is a dedicated space for children.
How many people are on your team?
6
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Our team of six shares leadership. I founded TEC and coordinate the overall program, partnerships, and planning. Five team members each lead one program area: career development and life skills, creative arts and talent, mentorship and leadership, counselling and emotional wellbeing, and education and personal development. We plan together before each monthly session, then each lead runs their activity. Decisions are made as a group, and we review feedback after every meeting.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Establish a regular venue and schedule. Hold monthly sessions every last Saturday, with a stable, safe space for all three age groups. Grow membership. Reach more children through schools, churches, parents, and community leaders, while keeping groups small enough for quality mentorship. Train our mentors. Give team members and volunteers basic training in child safeguarding, mentoring, and facilitation. Track progress. Use simple feedback forms and attendance records to measure confidence, participation, and skills learned, and use them to improve each session. Launch the Leaders mentoring pipeline. Have older members guide Juniors and Explorers, building leadership while extending our reach. Build partnerships. Work with schools, local professionals, and artists who can speak to children about careers and talents. Prepare for growth. Document our program so it can be repeated by others, and explore starting a second group in another community. With seed funding, we would spend on learning materials, a venue, training, and volunteer support so more children can benefit.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
I encourage people to join by talking directly to those who can help or benefit: parents, teachers, church and community leaders, and young volunteers. I explain the gap simply: there are clubs for youth, women, and men, but nothing for children. I also invite people to see the club for themselves and take a role that fits their skills, such as mentoring, music, or career talks. So far, my team of six has been the core of this effort. In the coming months, I plan to: Share the club's story and activities on WhatsApp and social media to reach parents and young people. Visit schools and community groups to present the club and invite children and mentors. Ask parents and members to spread the word to others. Invite older members of the Leaders group to recruit and welcome younger children. Hold an open day so families can see how a session works. I believe people will join because the idea is simple, the need is real, and everyone can contribute in some way.
