The Mandate
Being an Orphan Should Never Mean Being Without Opportunity
The August Mandate (TAM) is an initiative dedicated to the empowerment and development of orphans — helping them discover their potential and gain access to the skills, mentorship, discipleship and opportunities they need to build meaningful futures.
Every orphan has potential, gifts, dreams and a future. Our mandate is to create pathways through which that potential can be identified, nurtured and developed.
Our primary areas of empowerment are Media, Technology, Mentorship, Discipleship and Opportunity.
While orphanage homes are an important part of our work, our focus extends beyond children living in residential orphanage facilities. We seek to reach and support orphans wherever they are — working with orphanage homes, caregivers, churches, communities, organisations and other relevant stakeholders to identify and provide appropriate support.
The Need
Behind every circumstance is a child with potential
Across Nigeria, many orphans grow up facing circumstances that can affect their access to education, technology, practical skills, mentorship, career exposure and other opportunities for personal development.
An orphan may have an interest in photography, technology, design, media, communication, entrepreneurship or another field — but lack the resources, exposure or guidance necessary to discover and develop that interest.
The August Mandate exists to help close that gap.
We believe that empowerment should go beyond providing immediate care. While food, shelter, education and basic welfare remain important, we also want to contribute to the long-term development of the orphan — opportunities to learn practical skills, discover their strengths, meet positive role models, receive mentorship and understand that they can have a meaningful future.
We also recognise the growing importance of Media and Technology in education, communication, employment and entrepreneurship. For this reason, TAM places particular emphasis on equipping orphans with relevant Media and Technology skills, combined with mentorship, discipleship, personal development and exposure to opportunities.
Our desire is not simply to teach an orphan a skill. Our desire is to help an orphan discover what they can become.
Our Approach
Centred on the individual orphan
Every orphan has a different background, age, interest, ability and need. We work with trusted organisations and caregivers to understand those needs and develop interventions that are appropriate and meaningful. Our approach is built around five key areas:
Media
We introduce orphans to practical creative and communication skills:
- Photography
- Videography
- Graphic design
- Video editing
- Content creation
- Social media
- Broadcasting
- Digital storytelling
The aim is to expose them to creative possibilities and allow them to discover areas in which they may have interest and potential.
Technology
We provide exposure to relevant technology and digital skills:
- Computer literacy
- Digital tools
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital communication
- Technology-based creativity
- Other relevant digital skills
Our goal is to help bridge the digital exposure gap and prepare orphans to participate meaningfully in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Mentorship
Skills alone are not enough. We seek to connect orphans with responsible professionals, mentors and role models who can provide encouragement, guidance, career exposure and practical advice as they grow.
Through mentorship, an orphan can see possibilities beyond their current circumstances.
Discipleship
The August Mandate is built on the belief that true development includes character, values, purpose and faith.
Through appropriate discipleship and values-based engagement, we help orphans understand their identity, purpose and responsibility, while encouraging them to use their lives and abilities positively.
Opportunity
Training should lead somewhere.
We create opportunities for orphans to continue learning, practise their skills, meet professionals, participate in projects and, where appropriate, access further education, internships, scholarships, equipment, employment pathways and other developmental opportunities.
Beyond August
August is the starting point, not the finishing point
The name The August Mandate reflects our commitment to make August a significant period of intentional intervention, empowerment and service to orphans. During the annual August programme, TAM brings together trainers, mentors, volunteers, partners and supporters to provide structured training and engagement.
But we recognise an important reality: one week of training cannot transform an orphan's future by itself.
A child may discover an interest in photography during the August programme. Another may discover graphic design. Another may develop an interest in technology. Another may simply gain the confidence to believe they can achieve something meaningful. What happens next matters.
This is why TAM develops a continuous relationship with beneficiaries and the organisations and caregivers supporting them — a continuum of empowerment, rather than a one-off intervention.
Beyond August, our work includes
- Follow-up training
- Continued mentorship
- Skills development
- Career guidance
- Educational support
- Practical projects
- Digital learning
- Professional exposure
- Access to equipment and resources
- Scholarships and opportunities
Our Model
- Identify
- Expose
- Equip
- Mentor
- Develop
- Connect
- Empower
Long-Term Vision
A dedicated centre for the empowerment and development of orphans
The proposed TAM Centre would be more than a classroom — an ecosystem of opportunity where an orphan can discover an interest, develop a skill, find a mentor, practise that skill and eventually connect to opportunities that can influence their future.
A consistent environment with access to
- Media training
- Technology training
- Computers and digital resources
- Creative equipment
- Mentorship
- Discipleship
- Leadership development
- Career guidance
- Practical projects
- Professional exposure
- Educational and career opportunities
Kingdom Media Development
An important part of this long-term vision is identifying orphans who demonstrate particular interest and ability in Media and Technology, and helping them develop those abilities.
Through this pathway, TAM can help raise a generation of skilled, purpose-driven and Kingdom-minded professionals who can use their abilities to serve God, support the Church and advance the Kingdom agenda — one outcome of the broader mandate to empower orphans, rather than a replacement of its central focus.
Some may eventually become
- Photographers
- Videographers
- Graphic designers
- Video editors
- Content creators
- Broadcasters
- Technology professionals
- Digital communicators
- Church media personnel
The Heart of The August Mandate
We exist for the orphan.
We believe every orphan deserves more than survival. They deserve the opportunity to discover their potential, develop their abilities, receive guidance, experience love and mentorship, and have access to opportunities that can help shape their future.
Through Media, Technology, Mentorship, Discipleship and Opportunity, we invest in orphans — not just for a week in August, but towards a future of purpose, dignity, skill and impact.
The Structure of the Mandate
- Primary Beneficiaries
- Orphans
- Core Areas of Empowerment
- Media • Technology • Mentorship • Discipleship • Opportunity
- Key Access & Implementation Partners
- Orphanage Homes • Caregivers • Churches • Communities • NGOs • Professionals • Sponsors
- Flagship Period
- August
- Long-Term Direction
- Continuous Empowerment & The TAM Centre
- Strategic Outcome
- Empowered orphans with skills, purpose, character and access to opportunity