The Every Child Matters Initiative: Supporting Children with Special Needs

By ATRED Foundation (Advocates for Transparent Resource Empowerment and Development Foundation)

“Imagine a world where every child, regardless of their abilities, has the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in an inclusive society.”

For many children with disabilities and special needs in Nigeria, access to education, healthcare, and social inclusion remains a distant dream. According to the National Population Commission, approximately 7% of Nigerian children live with a disability, yet only a fraction have access to special education or support services. The stigma surrounding disabilities further isolates these children, denying them the dignity and opportunities they deserve.

The Every Child Matters Initiative by ATRED Foundation is dedicated to providing inclusive education, assistive devices, and caregiver support for 50,000 children with special needs in Nigeria. Through this initiative, we strive to remove barriers to learning, empower caregivers, and advocate for policies that promote disability rights.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 3 – Good Health & Well-being), this initiative works to create a society where every child, regardless of ability, has equal access to education and opportunities.

Why This Matters

• Education Should Be Accessible to All – Yet, children with disabilities face limited access to schools, trained teachers, and assistive learning tools.
• Stigma and Discrimination Must End – Many families hide their children due to societal prejudice, preventing them from receiving proper care.
• Empowered Caregivers Create Lasting Change – Providing training, psychological support, and financial assistance helps caregivers give children the care they deserve.

Our Objectives

• Provide Assistive Devices – Distribute wheelchairs, hearing aids, braille materials, and adaptive learning tools to 10,000 children.
• Support Inclusive Education – Train 500 teachers and caregivers on special education techniques and disability inclusion.
• Create Safe Learning Spaces – Establish 10 model inclusive classrooms equipped with specialized learning resources.
• Raise Awareness and Advocate for Policy Change – Conduct nationwide campaigns to end stigma and promote disability rights policies.

Our Approach: Holistic and Community-Driven

• Needs Assessment: Work with schools, hospitals, and community groups to identify children in need and tailor interventions accordingly.
• Assistive Device Distribution: Provide children with mobility aids, learning materials, and therapy support for a better quality of life.
• Pilot Testing: Launch a pilot program in Abuja FCT, equipping 100 children in two special needs schools with adaptive learning tools and therapy support.
• Caregiver Training: Organize workshops for parents and teachers, ensuring they have the skills to support children with disabilities effectively.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Track impact using key performance indicators:
  • Increase in school enrollment rates for children with disabilities.
  • Improvement in child development and engagement levels.
  • Reduction in stigma and discrimination against children with special needs.

Scalability and Sustainability

The Every Child Matters Initiative aims to expand nationwide, ensuring long-term sustainability through partnerships with local schools, NGOs, private sector donors, and government agencies.

With continuous advocacy for disability rights policies, we aim to influence national education systems to integrate inclusive learning models permanently.

How You Can Support This Initiative

With just NGN 15,000 (10 USD) per child, you can help provide assistive devices, special education materials, and caregiver training.

Your donation will:
✅ Provide a child with a mobility aid, hearing device, or braille material.
✅ Train a caregiver or teacher to support children with disabilities.
✅ Help scale the initiative for greater national impact.
✅ Support disability advocacy efforts to drive lasting policy change.

How many children will you support today?

• NGN 15,000 (10 USD) sponsors 1 child
• NGN 150,000 (100 USD) sponsors 10 children
• NGN 1,500,000 (1,000 USD) sponsors 100 children

Recognition for Your Generosity

All donor individuals and organizations will be recognized with their names and logos featured in promotional materials and media.

Donate Today and Change a Life

Together, we can create an inclusive society where every child matters, regardless of ability.