APPLY: Become a CYFI Fellow 2016

The Carrington Youth Fellowship Iniative (CYFI) is now inviting credible Nigerian youths with passion for driving community-based developmental projects to apply for CYFI 2016 Program (open to Lagos and Port Harcourt).

About CYFI:
Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative, CYFI, is a dynamic youth-based initiative launched in 2011 by the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. CYFI brings together Nigerian youth of exceptional vision, skills and experience to design and implement projects that have a positive impact on Nigerian society. The CYFI program was named after the Former Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, who was a champion of civil liberties, democracy and closer ties between the U.S. and Nigeria.

CYFI fellows are committed to putting the ideals of Walter Carrington into practice. The CYFI Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, selects fellows who demonstrate exceptional vision, skills and experience. Fellows are them grouped into teams based on interest, and teams then develop and implement their own youth engagement project over the course of the one-year fellowship duration. In addition to working with their team to bring their project into fruition, CYFI fellows have the opportunity to attend various networking events, roundtables and forums on relevant social issues, hosted by the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. The year will conclude with an awards ceremony for fellows, where fellows will be inducted into the CYFI Alumni Program.

My Personal Experience:
As a CYFI Fellow 2012, we were the first set to be inducted and I must confess that being a part of the program remains till today as one of the best opportunities I have ever had to learn differently, network effectively and contribute wholeheartedly my quota to empowering unskilled young people with entrepreneurship skills and tools which as of now is helping them to become employers of labour. All the Fellows were fantastic and brilliant crop of young Nigerians who were so committed to making their country a better place. I might as well brag a little that my team was the best because our vocational training project in Ibadan, Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Academy (YEC-Academy), later won the CYFI Award for Best Youth Engagement Project in 2012. :)

I, Ebenezer O. Akinrinade, is inviting you to be a part of history and make Nigeria proud! Being a CYFI Fellow might just be the perfect platform you need to step up into YALI just like Adepeju Salu (CYFI Alumni and President, YALI Alumni Nigeria).

Application Deadline:
January 11, 2016.

Eligibility:
Lagos and Port-Harcourt.

Official Website:
Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative

CYFI Application Page:
Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative 2016

** Remember to apply and share the opportunity within your professional network.
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U.S. Independence Day Celebration in Lagos

On every fourth day of July, American citizens around the world celebrates their independence and reflect on the struggles, sacrifice and ideals of the founding fathers of America.

Last year, as a Fellow of Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative CYFI (an initiative of the U.S. Consulate General Lagos) I was privileged to witness the independence celebration which held at the residence of the U.S. Consul General's residence. It was superb.

In celebration of this year's U.S. Independence Day, the U.S. Consul General Jeffrey J. Hawkins has extended invitations to all the current CYFI Fellows, CYFI Alumni Fellows and more than seven hundred special guests from across Nigeria to join in celebrating with the American people on Thursday, 4th of July, 2013 between 6pm and 9pm at his official residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The celebration tagged "American-style backyard cookout" is said to be an informal setting and guests are expected to dress in American-casual, Shorts, T-Shirts, Sundresses, Sandals, etc.

Attendance is strictly by invitation.

RSVP to: IndependenceDayLagos@state.gov

Nigeria: Global Youth Service Day 2013

To commemorate this year's Global Youth Service Day which holds on April 25th, the Public Affairs Section of the United States Mission to Nigeria is bringing together the U.S. Mission personnel, CYFI Fellows, alumni of U.S. sponsored educational and cultural exchange programs as well as other youth groups in a collaborative effort to highlight the importance of health and community service.

Chief Raymond Adekunle Olaiya Akinsemoyin, Baale of Makoko (Traditional ruler) and the entire residence of the Makoko Community, will be hosting the U.S. Mission in a special community program focused on women, children and aged especially.

Date : Thursday, April 25, 2013
Time : 10am - 2pm
Venue: Makoko Anglican Primary School, 25 Makoko Road, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos.

Highlights of the program include the following:

1) Health sensitization/counseling/routine
medical check-up by medical experts
o Blood pressure screening
o General health counseling
o Diabetes screening
o HIV sensitization (Voluntary Screening)
o Drug abuse counseling
o Stress and anxiety counseling
o Family planning counseling
o Counseling on nutrition

2) Educational/Youth Outreach
o Educational/career counseling
o Distribution of educational materials
o Environmental awareness talk
o Distribution of basic needs like cloths/shoes to the needy
o Film screening

Material Drive:
To ensure a successful program, there has been an ongoing “material drive” for members of the community, especially women, children and the aged since April 10th (till April 25th). Drugs, educational and household materials including toys, clothes and shoes will be given out during the event. All donors are required to fill out “Material Collection Sheet” provided by the U.S. Mission to Nigeria so as to calculate the materials and how many people donated during the material drive.

Volunteers:
Interested volunteers (especially medical practitioners) are invited to participate and there are plans to issue certificates to volunteers at the end of the event.

Contact Information:
Clemson Ayegbusi
Public Affairs Section,
U.S. Consulate General,
2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
(+234)-1-460-3603

Twitter:
@lagoscongen, @USEmbassyAbuja, @CYFI_Alumni