Current Projects

In 2010, Stepping Stones Nigeria will continue to work with our local partners and provide them with the skills and support to help meet the basic needs of disadvantaged children in the Niger Delta. This is includes supporting staff wages, food and transport costs, school scholarships and health care.

We will also be undertaking some new and innovative programmes that will enable us to bring lasting hope and create long term change in the belief in child witchcraft. These exciting projects include:

The Read and Write Now Initiative

Literacy is a basic human right, but despite this millions of children in Africa are unable to read and write. This innovative two year project aims to dramatically improve literacy rates amongst the most needy and disadvantaged children in the Niger Delta, a region of Nigeria that suffers from severe social and environmental instability. Working with the University of Uyo’s Institute of Education, the lead training provider for education in Akwa Ibom State, we will train, resource and inspire 3400 teachers from 1146 schools in year one to teach reading and writing to 85,900 children using the fun and successful method of synthetic phonics. This will bring lasting hope to the lives of thousands of children by improving life chances for employment, income, health status and housing.

The Fake Prophet

In July this year, SSN will be releasing it's first ever Nollywood film - 'The Fake Prophet'. The film challenges and denounces child witchcraft accusations, child trafficking and fraudulent Pastors operating within the church community. This will be distributed throughout Nigeria, other African countries and the UK. We are so excited by this project and are convinced that it will generate discussion, raise awareness and most importantly, help to protect and transform the lives of thousands of vulnerable children.

Child Rights Watch Project

Working in partnership with CEHRD, this project aims to: investigate, document and monitor abuses of children's rights in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo and Rivers State in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and promote awareness of child rights within this region via the PACT campaign. CEHRD will regularly travel to communities to investigate abuses of child rights, report cases to the relevant authorities and monitor the situation. 

Operation Enlightenment

Throughout Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, children are tortured, killed and abandoned every day due a strong belief in child witchcraft. Operation Enlightenment aims to effect long term change about the belief in child witchcraft by using radio adverts, posters, Nollywood films and music CD’s to raise awareness of child rights amongst communities and highlight the legal consequences for those individuals found guilty of labelling children as ‘witches’. It is anticipated that challenging the abuse of children as a result of this common belief will help to reduce the maltreatment, abandonment and trafficking of children in this region.

Oron Street Child Project

SSN is working towards establishing a new model street child project in Oron in partnership with SSNCEF. Specific emphasis will be placed on prevention, early intervention and family reunification. A drop-in shelter that can accomodate upto 60 street children will also be built and equipped. Here, children will be able to access nutritious meals, healthcare, clothing and essential toiletries. Working with local schools, opportunities for street children to access formal and non-formal education will be provided.

Computer Centre at SSMS

A key aim of SSN and SSMS is to equip children with the skills they will need to alleviate themselves from poverty and be reintegrated back into society. The computer centre will house ten computers complete with internet access. Users will also have access to a printer, scanner and photocopier. It will provide children with invaluable computer skills that will enable them to compete in the modern job market. It will also vastly improve the school's ability to manage its administration, as well as offer opportunities for local community members to enhance their skills and prospects.

If you are interested in sponsoring any of these projects, please contact us for more information on 0845 313 8391 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it