ATRED Foundation launches Cloth-a-Child initiative to promote education

By Stanley Onyekwere

ATRED Foundation, a non-government organisationion dedicated to empowering children and women through education and community development, has launched its flagship Cloth-a-Child Project.

The initiative, designed as a strategic response to the growing challenge of out-of-school children especially girls, seeks to promote enrolment, increase retention, and reduce poverty at the family level.

The pilot phase of the Cloth-a-Child Project began today, and will run across four public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT): LEA Primary School, Mabushi – 18th September, LEA Primary School, Sabon Gari, Bwari – 19th September, 1st UBE Primary School, Pasali, Kuje – 22nd September, LEA Primary School, Mpape – 29th September 2025.

The project focuses on providing school uniforms, socks, and shoes to underserved childrto promoteing enrolment for out-of-school children, particularly girls, increasing school retention and reducing absenteeism and empowering children with dignity and confidence to complete their basic education.

Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Victory Akachukwu, Executive Director of ATRED Foundation, emphasised that the project is more than just giving uniforms.

“This is about restoring hope, breaking barriers, and giving every child a fair chance at education.

“A simple uniform can be the bridge between exclusion and opportunity.”

In addition to the uniform distribution, ATRED Foundation awarded scholarships to three children; two in primary school to support their education until completion, and one in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) to cover tuition through the end of secondary school. This reflects the foundation’s holistic approach of combining material support with long-term investment in children’s education.

The Foundation has expressed determination to scale the Cloth-a-Child Project across all six area councils of the FCT and, ultimately, around states in the 6 geopolitical zones that have a high concentration of out-of school children, to ensure that no child particularly vulnerable girls is left behind due to poverty or lack of access to basic educational needs.