Twenty adolescent girls recently graduated from the Reignite Academy, a transformative initiative by Beyond the Classroom Foundation under its Beyond Her Odds Initiative. This milestone marks a significant step in the girls’ journey back to school after years of being out of the education system due to poverty, loss of parents, early marriage, or harmful gender norms.

The Reignite Academy delivers a structured curriculum that rebuilds confidence, strengthens academic foundations, and provides life skills and mentorship. The graduating cohort included girls who had been out of school for over three years. Some had lost one or both parents, while others were denied education by their caregivers. Two sisters shared that their father stopped supporting their education simply because, in his words, “they are girls.” Stories like these are sadly common, but Reignite is working to change that.

Founder of Beyond the Classroom Foundation, Mrs. Raquel Kasham Daniel noted that, “This is more than a graduation, it’s a second chance. We are committed to ensuring that no girl is left behind, not because of poverty, not because of culture, and definitely not because of her gender.”
With Phase one completed, the girls elected from the Guzape Village, Abuja will now begin Phase two, an empowerment and skill acquisition phase, before transitioning back into formal schooling in September, 2025.

Funded by Inspiring Girls and Grassroots Network for Inclusive and Transformative Education (IGNITE) Project, a Consortium that supports feminist organising and interventions to advance girls’ rights, comprising, Urgent Action Fund–Africa (UAF-Africa), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), René Moawad Foundation. The Consortium is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Also present at the graduation ceremony were key members of the IGNITE Consortium, including, Programmes Director at IGNITE, Emily Jacquard; Programmes Director at Urgent Action Fund–Africa, Jean Kemitare; Mr. SamWel Oando from PASGR; and other partners. The second cohort will launch in June 2025 in Abuja, welcoming a new group of girls into the programme. With ongoing support, these girls will be equipped to return to school, complete their education, and build a brighter future.