Project Launch: 10-19-21

Uplifting the Warriors is a project in the Unguwan dosa community, located in Kaduna North, Nigeria. This community has an estimate of about 27,000 people and 3,000 households. 70% of the population are made up of youth and 20% of the youth are living with various disabilities. Young people dealing with physical disabilities or medical conditions in the Unguwan dosa community are subject to dealing with stigma and unequal access to opportunities within the community. Young people diagnosed with sickle cell anemia are particularly alienated and disengaged within the community because of uncertainties that community members have around the effect of their condition. Uplifting the warriors aims to not only bring awareness to young people dealing with the diagnosis of sickle cell, but empower them through a vocational training course. In addition, this project will implement an awareness lecture and walk to inform and educate the community members on the effects of sickle cell. This project will serve as an opportunity to destigmatize misconceptions around sickle cell and to give these warriors the necessary skills and knowledge to further develop their career, grow and help others understand exactly what living with sickle cell entails.