Picture a teenager sitting in front of a computer, trying to figure out how to use AI to build a website. Now picture another young person across the room working with yarn, learning how a simple pattern can slowly become something they can actually hold in their hands. This is what took place at the Proudtobeme Lagos Summer Bootcamp 2026.
From 10 to 14 August 2026, 37 teenagers came together in Lagos, Nigeria, for five days of practical learning, creativity, and discovery. By the end of the week, 29 participants had completed the bootcamp.
The goal was simple: give young people the opportunity to try, create, and discover what they are capable of.
For many teenagers, the holidays can mean long hours on their phones, social media, gaming, and entertainment. Technology is already a huge part of young people’s lives, but there is a difference between using technology and creating with it.
That difference was at the heart of this year’s bootcamp.
Rather than spending five days sitting through lectures, participants were encouraged to get involved. They experimented with AI, explored website design, learned crochet, and were introduced to basic carpentry and repairs.
This is exactly the kind of hands-on experience we create through our programmes and Upcoming Workshops . We believe that young people learn best when they are actively doing, not just passively listening.
A Week of Discovery and Practical Skills
One of the most exciting parts of the Bootcamp was the variety. Participants exploring artificial intelligence were introduced to digital literacy and practical AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude. They then explored how AI could support creating simple websites.
For some, this was their first opportunity to see AI as more than something they hear about in the news or use casually online. They could actually use it to build something. This is a skill that will become increasingly valuable as AI continues to shape the workplace.
The International Labour Organization notes that digital skills are becoming essential for young people entering the workforce. The OECD has found that young people without digital literacy are at a significant disadvantage in the job market. Programmes like our Lagos Bootcamp are helping to close that gap.
The crochet sessions offered a completely different experience. Participants learned foundational techniques and progressed to practical projects, including handbags. They had to follow patterns, practise techniques, and sometimes undo their work and start again.
Then there was carpentry. Through demonstrations and practical activities, participants were introduced to basic repair concepts and the value of solving everyday problems with their own hands.
These diverse activities are part of our broader approach to building confidence and skills through our ILM Courses and other accredited programmes.
From “I Can’t” to “Let Me Try”
One of the most valuable things about practical learning is what happens when a young person realises they can do something they initially thought was difficult.
The first crochet attempt may not look perfect. The website may need fixing. A new technique may take several attempts to understand. And that is okay.
The point is not to get everything right the first time. It is to create an environment where young people feel comfortable enough to try, make mistakes, ask questions, and try again. That process can build something that is just as important as the technical skill itself: confidence.
This is what we have learned from working with young people over the years. Confidence is not something you are born with. It is built through experience, through trying and failing and trying again. It is built in environments where mistakes are seen as part of learning, not as signs of failure.
The World Bank has found that social and emotional skills, including confidence and resilience, are essential for young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The United Nations has highlighted that young people need both technical skills and the confidence to apply them.
Our bootcamp was designed to build both.
29 Teenagers Completed the Bootcamp
The numbers tell part of the story. 37 teenagers registered. 29 completed the five-day programme. But behind those numbers are 29 young people with different interests, personalities, and ideas about their futures.
For one participant, AI may have opened up a new interest in technology. For another, completing a crochet project may have been the highlight. Someone else may have discovered that they enjoy working with their hands and solving practical problems.
We may not know yet where these experiences will lead. And perhaps that is the point. You do not always know what a single opportunity will become. Sometimes you give a young person the chance to try something new and allow curiosity to take it from there.
These are the stories we love to share on our Blogs page. They remind us why we do this work and why it matters.
Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes were clear. Participants developed:
- Foundational crochet techniques
- Completed practical crochet projects
- Built basic AI literacy
- Explored AI-assisted website design
- Gained exposure to practical repair concepts
The experience also supported collaboration, innovation, confidence-building, and community engagement. These other skills may not appear on the certificate, but they will stay with the participants long after the Bootcamp ends.
This is why we encourage young people to document their achievements and build portfolios. It is also why we offer accredited qualifications through our ILM Courses , giving young people formal recognition for their skills.
Why This Matters
At Proudtobeme, we believe young people deserve opportunities to explore their potential. Our work focuses on creating opportunities that help young people develop skills in areas including creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, and employability.
The Summer Bootcamp is one expression of that vision. We are not trying to tell every young person what they should become. We want to give them opportunities to discover what interests them, develop practical skills, and begin thinking differently about what might be possible.
The teenager who discovers a love for technology today could become tomorrow’s developer, entrepreneur, or innovator. The young person who discovers a talent for crochet could turn that skill into a creative business. The teenager who learns how to fix something with their own hands may carry that confidence into whatever path they eventually choose.
The UNESCO Global Skills Tracker notes that nearly 40% of current skillsets no longer align with job market needs. This is not a problem that young people can solve on their own. They need opportunities to develop new skills, and they need support to build the confidence to use them.
That is exactly what we are trying to provide.
What We Learned From the Young People
Over the five days, we learnt a lot from the participants. They taught us that young people are hungry for opportunities to learn practical skills. They showed us that when you give young people the tools and support they need, they will surprise you with what they can achieve.
We also saw that learning happens best when it is hands-on and relevant. The young people who were most engaged were those who could see how what they were learning connected to their own lives and interests.
These are the lessons we take forward into our future programmes. They remind us that we need to keep creating practical, hands-on opportunities for young people to learn and grow.
You can learn more about our approach on our About Us page.
So, What Comes Next?
A five-day bootcamp cannot teach someone everything. It is not supposed to. What it can do is spark curiosity. It can introduce a new skill. It can give a young person their first experience of something they may never have encountered otherwise.
Most importantly, it can leave them asking a very different question: “What else could I learn to do?”
The bootcamp may have lasted five days, but the hope is that the curiosity, confidence, and skills developed during those five days will continue long after participants leave the Bootcamp.
We hope they will carry forward what they learned. We hope they will continue to explore, to create, and to believe in their own potential. And we hope that when they look back on those five days, they will remember not just the skills they learned, but the feeling of discovering what they are capable of.
The Journey Continues
The Lagos Summer Bootcamp is part of Proudtobeme’s wider work to create meaningful opportunities for young people through practical learning, mentoring, and skills development. Proudtobeme’s work centres on helping young people build confidence, develop their abilities, and make informed decisions about their futures. This is only one part of the journey.
If you are a young person ready to build your skills and confidence, you can join our Upcoming Workshops or explore our ILM Courses .
If you are an organisation or individual who wants to support young people, you can Get Involved or contact us to learn more about partnerships and opportunities.
Want to Support the Next Generation?
Proudtobeme works with young people through programmes, mentoring, skills development, and partnerships.
If you would like to learn more about Proudtobeme’s work, explore our About Us page or see some of our programmes and projects.
If you are a school, organisation, business, mentor, or potential partner interested in working with us, we would love to have a conversation. You can get involved or reach out through our contact page.
Email: admin@proudtobeme.org
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Website: proudtobeme.org
