We Opened Our First Community Learning Hub

On the 1st of March 2025, surrounded by children, parents, community leaders, and the volunteers who made it possible, we cut the ribbon on our first permanent Community Learning Hub in Mushin, Lagos.

It was, to put it plainly, one of the best days in our organisation's history.

Why a Permanent Space Matters

For years, our programmes ran from borrowed classrooms, church halls, and outdoor spaces. While we made it work, the lack of a permanent base created real constraints:

• Sessions cancelled when borrowed spaces weren't available
• Limited storage for books, learning materials, and equipment
• No dedicated safe space for children to study outside of structured sessions
• Harder to build the consistent community relationships that make programmes effective

The Hub changes all of that.

What the Hub Offers

The 1,200 square foot space includes:

• A reading room — stocked with over 800 books across all reading levels, open to children and families in the community six days a week
• Two teaching rooms — used for our daily literacy programmes, after-school tutoring, and adult education sessions
• A computer suite — with 12 devices, providing digital literacy training and homework support
• A community meeting room — available for parent workshops, volunteer training, and local events

The Road to Opening

The Hub was funded through a combination of a community fundraising campaign, a grant from a UK-based education charity, and donations from individual supporters around the world. The fit-out was carried out largely by volunteers, many of them tradespeople from the local community who gave their time for free.

The project took 18 months from concept to completion. There were delays, setbacks, and moments when it felt impossible. But the community never stopped believing in it.

What Comes Next

In the coming months we'll be expanding the Hub's opening hours and launching a new adult literacy programme for parents in the community — because we know that when parents read, children read.

Come and visit us if you're in Lagos. The kettle is always on.