In commemoration of the International Day of Education (IDE) 2026, The Sapphires Development Initiative (TSDI) carried out the CE-YOU Project as a structured civic engagement intervention designed to position young people within conversations about education, leadership, and peace-building.
CE-YOU created intentional spaces for reflection, participation, and self-development. The project encouraged young people to see themselves not only as beneficiaries of education systems, but as civic actors capable of shaping the future of learning and society.
In a strategic collaboration with the Ibadan Alliance Peace Club (Ilorin, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Osun State Peace Clubs), CE-YOU had IDE’26 (The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education) theme-aligned engagements across university communities and National Youth Service platforms.
Through guided conversations, mindfulness-based self-development sessions, and structured insight-capture tools, the project explored how young people experience education beyond academics, as a pathway to leadership, peace-building, and community responsibility.
A Multi-State Collaborative Approach
The implementation of CE-YOU was made possible through partnerships with Peace Clubs operating across different locations, allowing the project to reach diverse youth groups within academic and service-learning environments.
Ilorin Engagement
At the University of Ilorin, CE-YOU was integrated into IDE activities in collaboration with the Ilorin Peace Club and the university’s Counselling Unit. Over 200 participants were engaged during the IDE programme held at the Education
Lecture Theatre. The session introduced participants to:
● the role of youth in shaping education systems,
● reflective civic participation,
● and the importance of mindset in peace-building.
A digital survey mechanism was deployed through QR access to capture real-time perspectives, while structured interviews with student leaders provided deeper insight into how education is experienced within institutional settings.
A follow-up engagement during the Faculty of Arts orientation programme extended participation and enabled Peace Architects to introduce mindfulness practices as tools for self-awareness, leadership, and conflict sensitivity.
Together, these engagements generated both quantitative and qualitative insight into youth experiences of education.
Ibadan Engagement
In Ibadan, the Peace Club engaged 216 Corps Members during a dedicated IDE programme.
The session emphasized:
● youth responsibility in societal transformation,
● the importance of lifelong learning,
● and the role of self-development in sustainable peace.
Participants were introduced to meditation as a non-religious tool for mental clarity and emotional balance, followed by a guided practice session.
CE-YOU’s insight capture was integrated through a QR-enabled survey facilitated by TSDI, ensuring participants’ reflections were documented alongside the experiential learning process.
A subsequent NYSC engagement reached an additional 130 Corps Members, expanding the project’s reach and generating interest from an SDGs-focused CDS group for future collaboration.
Abeokuta Engagement
Through collaboration with the Abeokuta Peace Club, CE-YOU extended its IDE engagement to 388+ youth audiences within the NYSC platform.
The session created space for Corps Members to reflect on their role in shaping society through education, personal growth, and civic responsibility. Interactive discussions and structured participation activities reinforced:
● the connection between self-development and societal impact,
● the role of mindset in leadership,
● and the importance of active youth participation in strengthening education systems.
Insights gathered during the engagement contributed to the broader evidence base being developed through the CE-YOU project.
Osun State Engagement
In Osun State, CE-YOU was implemented through a dedicated engagement titled “The Resolution Room.”
This session provided a facilitated space for young participants to explore personal growth, leadership, and their evolving relationship with education.
Through guided dialogue and reflective exercises, 117+ participants examined:
● how education shapes identity and purpose,
● how self-awareness contributes to peace-building,
● and how youth agency can influence broader societal outcomes.
The Resolution Room model enabled deeper introspection while also supporting thedocumentation of youth perspectives within the CE-YOU framework.
Highlights and Outcomes
Collaborations with the Ilorin, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Osun Peace Clubs, CE-YOU achieved the following:
● Direct engagement of 800+ young people across academic and NYSC platforms
● Strengthened awareness of youth roles in shaping education and society
● Integration of mindfulness and reflective practices into civic engagement
● Collection of structured insights through digital surveys and guided interactions
● Expanded partnerships for future youth-focused initiatives.
Most importantly, the project reframed education as not just a system to be improved, but a shared responsibility shaped by mindset, participation, and leadership.
Looking Ahead
The insights generated through CE-YOU now contribute to TSDI’s broader research and advocacy efforts focused on building responsive, inclusive, and youth-informed education ecosystems.
By combining engagement, reflection, and structured participation, CE-YOU demonstrated that meaningful education advocacy begins not only with policy, but with empowered young people who understand their role in shaping the future.
