Mendaya

22/02/2026

The world often tells one story about Northern Nigeria.
War. Conflict.Violence. Hunger. Poverty. Religious tension.

These stories dominate headlines, media platforms, and international conversations.

But there are other stories; Stories rarely told. The story of resilience.The story of creativity.The story of children in marginalized and underserved communities who are building beauty in the middle of broken systems.

This is why we at MENDAYA created Runway For Change; a community fashion show and creative festival where children take the lead.

From local tailor shops to community centers, we are spotlighting:
The teenage apprentice discovering his/her creative genius
The boy/girl whose poetry carries unspoken truths
The child whose voice for music has never been heard
The dancer whose steps were never given a stage

When communities are traumatized by poverty, conflict and survival struggles, it deeply impacts the psychology and development of children.

Creativity becomes more than expression, it becomes healing, identity, and power.
Runway For Change removes fashion and entertainment from luxurious spaces and brings it into the heart of the community, where children design, model, perform, speak, and lead.

With one energy.
With one voice.
With one platform.

We are raising children to become creative advocates of the world they wish to see and live in.

21/02/2026

We are excited to announce the first edition of The Mendaya Fashion Show For Kids; a platform elevating child-rights advocacy by equipping children to rewrite their own story and become creative advocates of the world they wish to see and live in.

21/02/2026

We are excited to announce the first edition of The Mendaya Fashion Show For Kids; a platform elevating child-rights advocacy by equipping children to rewrite their own story and become creative advocates of the world they wish to see and live in.

20/02/2026

Design begins with conception.
Conception births originality.
Originality creates uniqueness.

This is how we at MENDAYA are building the next generation of creatives. But this is bigger than fashion. It is about trusting our boys to express themselves safely.

By nature, boys carry strong, intense energy. That energy is not the problem. Suppression is. Social programming is. Silence is. When boys are taught to “man up” instead of open up, their energy often finds unhealthy outlets — hurting themselves, hurting others, or shrinking into emotional isolation.

What if we trained our boys differently?

What if we taught them that masculinity is not dominance, but dignity? That strength is not control, but self-mastery?
That emotions are not weakness, but part of being human?

When boys learn to love themselves, understand their emotions, build empathy, and channel their energy into creativity rather than aggression, everything changes.

They grow into men who protect, not harm.
Men who build, not break.
Men who feel, not suppress.

And when that happens: Gender-based violence decreases. Su***de rates among men decline. Fewer young men end up in prison.

This is not just creative education.
This is prevention.
This is healing.
This is nation-building.

And it starts with how we train our boys.

20/02/2026

Design begins with conception.
Conception births originality.
Originality creates uniqueness.

This is how we at Mendaya are building the next generation of creatives. But this is bigger than fashion. It is about trusting our boys to express themselves safely.

By nature, boys carry strong, intense energy. That energy is not the problem. Suppression is. Social programming is. Silence is. When boys are taught to “man up” instead of open up, their energy often finds unhealthy outlets — hurting themselves, hurting others, or shrinking into emotional isolation.

What if we trained our boys differently?

What if we taught them that masculinity is not dominance, but dignity? That strength is not control, but self-mastery?
That emotions are not weakness, but part of being human?

When boys learn to love themselves, understand their emotions, build empathy, and channel their energy into creativity rather than aggression, everything changes.

They grow into men who protect, not harm.
Men who build, not break.
Men who feel, not suppress.

And when that happens: Gender-based violence decreases. Su***de rates among men decline. Fewer young men end up in prison.

This is not just creative education.
This is prevention.
This is healing.
This is nation-building.

And it starts with how we train our boys.

19/02/2026

19/02/2026

Meet Designer Monday, one of the participants of the Mendaya Creative Fashion Design Workshop.

Monday is 15 years old. He grew up in a community in Kaduna South affected by violence, constant killings, and kidnapping. Because of the insecurity around him, he never had the opportunity to attend school until he was 12.

Eventually, Monday left his village and moved to Kudenda, a marginalized community where Mendaya is currently operating. For the first time in his life, he was enrolled in school at Landforce Academy, whose proprietor generously opened their facility to host our pilot program.

When Monday was introduced to the idea of designing his own dream outfit and exhibiting it at a community fashion show, his eyes lit up. He immediately became a participant.

Before joining the program, Monday thought fashion and tailoring were simply about cutting and sewing clothes. But at Mendaya, he encountered something different, creativity through play. Our curriculum is built on trusting the creative intelligence of children and giving them the freedom to explore.

The first time he was asked to sketch his dream outfit, he hesitated:
"How do I even do this?"

With guidance without judgement, encouragement, and the right tools, Monday drew his very first design.

He went on to learn how to draft a basic bodice pattern. He practiced pattern drafting on paper. He transferred his sketch onto the drafted bodice and painted it in colors he personally chose.

It was not about perfection.
It was about giving Monday, and every other marginalized and vulnerable boy the tools to dream, to create, and to rewrite their own story.

Then he was introduced to textile waste, fabrics discarded by other tailors, now transformed into valuable raw materials for creativity.

Today, Monday is ready to stitch his dream outfit.

On 28th March 2026, he will exhibit his creation at MENDAYA’s First Edition of the Fashion Show for Kids.

This is more than a fashion show.
It is a story being rewritten.

10/02/2026

DAY 5 | 07/02/2026
THE VALUE OF WASTE

With passion in our eyes and joy on our faces, we explored the true value of waste. Our participants learned how human activities impact the environment, and what responsibility looks like in action.

Together, we sorted over 500kg of pre-consumer textile waste that would otherwise have been burned or sent to landfill.

At MENDAYA, textile waste is more than a raw material for creativity. It is a powerful metaphor. Just as textile waste is often ignored among waste streams, the needs of boys from vulnerable communities are often overlooked in development conversations, despite being deeply impacted by neglect, violence, and limited access to safe spaces.

Globally, the fashion industry generates over 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually. Pre-consumer waste is one of the most invisible forms, silenced through burning, burying, and dumping, contributing to pollution, methane emissions, and climate change.

This is why we created UNSTITCH: Wear Your Dream.
Through creative arts and fashion design, we equip vulnerable boys with practical skills to imagine and create what they envision, while also providing safe spaces for emotional expression, healing, and growth.

We are not just repurposing waste.
We are restoring value to materials, to minds, and to futures.

05/02/2026

Day 3 | 04/02/2026 – The Playground of Equality

Today was filled with laughter, play, and powerful learning moments.

From deep thinking over the Scrabble board to focused aim on the dart board, our participants learned how to work in teams, respect different perspectives, and value individual contributions toward collective progress.

Then something beautiful happened
We began sketching patterns for their dream designs.

Through play-based learning, we are teaching children creative and circular fashion design, not by lecturing, but by doing.

I watched them carefully take measurements with tape, fully focused, fully present. We didn’t just tell them what to do.
We showed them.
Then we stepped back and let them try, step by step, process by process, no shortcuts.

This is how confidence is built.
This is how skills are formed.
This is how learning comes alive.

02/02/2026

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS – MENDAYA IMPACT CREW

The Voices. The People. The Action.
Change happens when voices speak up, people show up, and actions create impact.
Join us to create safe, empowering spaces for vulnerable boys to learn, dream, and lead.

Our Programs:
1. Boys Bill of Rights Campaign across Schools starting from Tuesday 3rd February 2026
2. Inter-Street Football & Creative Outreach starting from 28th February 2026
3. Creative Art & Design Workshops Starting from Monday 2nd February 2026, Afternoon, weekend and holiday program.
4. Holiday Boot Camp for Boys starting from 20th March 2026
5. Fashion Show for Kids on the Street on the 28th March 2026.

📍 Location: Kaduna (especially Kudenda & environs)
📞 +2349136554281
💻 Remote roles available
Visit: www.mendaya.org

Who We’re Looking For:
Committed volunteers who believe in the creative potential, and the rights of all children regardless of their gender, background. Basic English communication + ability to speak Hausa.

Volunteer Roles:
Graphic Design | Social Media | Event Planning & Coordination |
Photography & Videography | Workshop Facilitation |
Logistics & Operations | Documentation

You’re a great fit if you believe that:
1. Boys should unlearn harmful stereotypes about masculinity
2. Every child deserves a safe space to learn, dream, and grow
3. Children’s rights must be protected
4. Education and dignity are rights, not privileges

What You’ll Gain:
1. Hands-on experience in project planning & implementation
2. Bi-monthly mentorship on problem-solving, ideation & enterprise development.
3. One-on-one Masterclass on proposal writing
4. Public speaking & communication skills
5. Lead a real community project

👥 Male & Female volunteers welcome.
Be part of the team turning voices into action.