NEWS

Access to Success (A2S) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the community in Benin City, Nigeria with a US office in Davidson, North Carolina. A2S was founded in 2010 by Davidson College alum and former Davidson Basketball Forward, Andrew Lovedale (2005-2009). Andrew is from Benin City, Nigeria and created A2S in an effort to give back to his community what was given to him – love and consistency. A2S stemmed from “Kicks from Cats,” a shoe drive led by Andrew and the Davidson Men’s Basketball team while Andrew was a student-athlete.

In the last 10+ years, A2S has grown beyond shoe drives and basketball camps to include a series of holistic programs to address extreme poverty in Benin City. A2S’s focus is to use education as a means to lift children and young adults out of poverty. Nigeria has the fifth-highest number of children out of school in the world. 13.2 million children in Nigeria currently do not attend school. In an effort to keep children in school and prepare them for the workforce, A2S has developed an After School Academy that serves 250 children year-round; a Scholars Program that provides scholarships to 60+ university students in Nigeria and opportunities for seven high school and university students to study in the US; a Entrepreneur Empowerment Program that mentors and funds three businesses a year and provides resources to a community of 250+ entrepreneurs; and of course, an Outreach Program that, among other activities, continues to hold Basketball and Empowerment Camps for 500 campers each year.

Over the last decade, A2S has operated by renting different spaces around Benin City. While their programs have been extremely effective, renting different spaces across town creates

obstacles for staff and beneficiaries. A2S is excited to now be building its very own Youth Center. This central home will make work more efficient for A2S’s 17 full time and ten part time staff members, create growth to employ more community members and serve more children, and save the organization on operating costs in the long run. The Youth Center is even more convenient to where most of the kids live!

As this year comes to a close, A2S is raising funds as a part of their year-end campaign. With the opening of the Youth Center next year, A2S is looking to fund the operating costs of getting the building up and running once constructed and furnished. This Youth Center will allow A2S to expand to serve 300 children at the After School Academy, as well as open up vocational workshops to the community in the next three years. Those interested in making a contribution can visit this link.

Those interested in learning more can visit a2sfoundation.org and follow A2S on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.