International Talents Outreach (ITO) is a Nonprofit (NGO) first founded by a UK based Cameroonian – Jean Samuel Mfikela Liynyuy. The Organisation has been extending to different African countries to positively impact lives at all levels with focus on human capacity development (capacity building), promotion of all talents, promotion of art and culture and sensitization or campaign against drug/substance abuse and rehabilitation of drug addicts to shift the focus of Africans from self-destruction, joblessness, talent redundancy and low self-esteem to self-reliance and entrepreneurship by training Africans with skills commensurable to their talents and interest aimed at improving GDP, reduced crime, to regain skilled workers’ integrity and bring about sustainability of livelihood through acquired skills or talent and innovation. The foundation helps orphans and the less privileged communities in that regard. In achieving our objectives, this foundation draws its directorates from religious leaders, royal fathers, lawyers, police DPOs, community chiefs, university lecturers, school principals, skilled workers, humanitarians and talents across African countries. These directorates are dwellers in the community who leave and work in the community and understand the need of the community better. They are also involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases of all programs and projects to ensure success and sustainability.

We Are Not

1. A political party
2. Affiliated with any negative movement

Agenda

The attainment of our mandate necessitates a solid leadership of dignified individuals which the foundation has put in place to attain our goals sustainably.  It is in our plan to building resource and handicraft centers across states and localities in addition to those of our members, we intend to train, promote and equip the African child with what it takes to subsist. Artisans/skilled workers and different talents have easy membership after being verified as credible citizens to ease the training of children, youth, and women, also, in assisting vulnerable members of the society. All programs and projects are funded through self-funding, benefactors, partners, grants and donations.

Processes

Capacity Building

Every responsible talent or skilled worker is accepted as a member and or a trainer for International Talent Outreach. In that way, we attach children, youth and women from their communities to these artisans/trainers for training/apprenticeship for social inclusion. Machines, shops, equipment and startup grants are freely provided to trainees for self-reliance at the end of the training. To a beneficiary, another trainee is attached for a continuous chain of trainees. Sometimes SMEs and entrepreneurship is repackaged through training and retraining to enable people from poor communities to subsist sustainably in a well-structured empowerment program or business.

Volunteers train trainees in our organization also. That maybe as a humanitarian service with little or no financial involvement or as may be agreed.

International recognition in form of awards, certificates and gifts are giving to motivate the talents with outstanding ingenuity.

Art and Culture

We promote and involve ourselves in anything that has to do with culture and the arts, which involves literature, formative art, performing art, traditional art, cultural heritage, cultural industry, and living culture sometimes we do so in partnership. In addition, pottery, metalwork, sculpture, glass works, architecture, textile art and fiber art, and much more are important in our culture in Africa and they define us, we also use them as tools for acculturation, sensitization, enlightenment, peace advocacy, sense of belonging, etcetera. These activities attract tourist that extends to the promotion of tourism. We partner with traditional institutions, organizations, agencies and institutions in attaining this objective.

The founder, Jean Samuel Liynyuy Mfikela is an international artist who studied Banking and Finance in the UK but has used his ingenuity in art as a means of livelihood instead because it has been his talent from childhood. He therefore encourage talents to use their skills, talent and ability instead of paper qualification without talent or passion. His paintings earned international recognitions and are in different galleries across the world. His works are likened to that of Pablo Picasso (Prolific and influential Spanish artist who lived in France (1881-1973)).

The founder therefore see ingenuity and strong communication in art works. He demonstrates the true African story in a unique way and tells the international community that Pablo Picasso painted like him because he is an African painting the stories of his Ancestors while Picasso was not and he tried telling a story that we as Africans can tell better about ourselves and our heritage.

He has always advocated that talents and skilled workers should be motivated and promoted rather than being rendered redundant and skilled workers/artisans and artists should be retrained and honoured as conventional professionals are.

Children, youth, women are involved in art. The true artists are encouraged to express their ingenuity through art and to tell the African story in a unique and special way to the world through paintings, drawings, drama and other forms of art.

Sensitization/campaign against drug/substance abuse and rehabilitation.

UN Research has shown that more than 70% of people in prison or correctional centers were drug abusers, have abused drugs or are still abusing drugs or substances which implies that drug and substance abuse is something that common with criminals and prospective criminals that engage in social vices. In addition, drug abuse brings about other ills in the society such as rape, domestic violence, armed robbery, crimes, passage of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) due to indulgence in premarital and extramarital sex, banditry and other social vices. This organization therefore shifts the mindset of Africans who may be victims from self-destruction and social vices to self-reliance and social inclusion by sensitizing on the dangers, campaigning against drug/substance abuse and rehabilitating the addicts.

It is important for the school, family or community, particularly the parents and teachers not only to be knowledgeable about suspects or potential drug abusers but to also have the ability to identify drug abuse among learners and children. The common signs of the presence of drug abuse include:

1. Possession of drug related objects such as rolling paper and pipes.
2. Possession of the actual drugs.
3. The smell of drugs or odor on clothing and breath.
4. Drug-related magazines and clothing.
5. Hostility in discussing drugs.
6. Memory loss, lapses, short attention span or difficulty in concentration in class.
7. The conversation mainly focusing on drugs.
8. Good knowledge about various types of drugs.
9. Unhealthy appearance, indifference to hygiene and grooming.
10. Bloodshot eyes or dilated learners.
11. Deteriorating performance in class.
12. Increased absenteeism and tardiness.
13. Chronic dishonesty.
14. Attitude towards sex.
15. Possession of large amounts of money.
16. Increasing and inappropriate anger, hostility and irritability.
17. Reduced motivation, energy, and self-discipline.
18.  
19. Tremors in hands.
20. Staggering, physical disorientation.
21. Abrupt emotional change.

Campaigns

The campaign for drug abuse is to be divided into 12 based on the number of months in a year and further divided into 52 based on the number of weeks in a year. For the month of May (Specifically 31st), it is the world no tobacco day month and all the themes will be focused on tobacco use and its effects. Online campaigns shall be launched with captivating hashtags on the organization’s website and social media platforms. Offline campaigns should reach schools, villages and or communities, cities, affected areas and religious bodies in collaboration with health authorities or as may be arranged by the team. Campaign team consists of Content writers, Psychologists, Public Speakers, Graphic Designers, Social Media managers, Mainstream Media Personnel and Volunteers. At the start of the campaign, the organization calls for volunteers that are interested in the project. They should have previous knowledge on health-related issues relevant to the campaign or sensitization and a good social media presence.

Benefits of this NGO

1. Promotion of any talent or skill that you may have
2. All responsible skilled workers and talents of any African country is recognized through our membership ID card.
3. Provision of better machines to members that are trainers
4. Promotion of arts and craft and culture of our localities through involvement
5. Meeting the welfare needs of the members
6. International recognition
7. Strong welfare system to ensure that all skilled workers, children and youth have protected interest
8. Job opportunities through contracts
9. Accessibility to benefits from our partnership to other organizations
10. Access to donations, grants, and pension-like scheme which will cater for members at a later age.
11. Benefit from philanthropic assistance
12. Benefit from coalition with other organizations
13. Promotion of entrepreneurial skills, provision of possible assistance to your SMEs and craftsmanship
14. Benefit from the body as a collaboration of different components of the society.
15. Art and culture, rehab campaigns, legal intervention and activities that sensitize the publics relevant to our objectives
16. Other unfolding opportunities

Note:

We are one family united by a constitution and a focus for the attainment of our mission and vision collectively.

Each official is selected based on their relevance, talent, skill, impact or position in the society. No religious, tribal or racial differences should affect the organizations focus on the attainment of key aims and objective and no disregard of the disadvantaged group, orphans, children or the vulnerable that the organization should always assist.

There should be respect for the leadership of the organization. The leadership shall beside other things, ensure the benefits reach the target people and communities sustainably.

Thank you for learning about us.

                                                You are welcome to our website,

                                                From all of us, at International Talent Outreach (ITO) – Nigeria.