In many underserved communities, teenagers grow up navigating pressures that can easily derail their confidence and their future. But BBTT Foundation chooses to meet them differently — with guidance, skills, and steady support.
Led by Executive Director Olubunmi Fred-Otite, the organisation has built a reputation for showing up where it matters most: schools, communities, and the quiet spaces where young people are trying to make sense of who they are and who they can become.
For years, Brighten and Build the Teens Foundation has been helping teenagers access accurate information, build essential life skills, stay in school, and develop the confidence to make healthy decisions. Their approach blends education, entrepreneurship, employability programmes, and health initiatives, especially for girls who face added barriers around hygiene and dignity.
In this feature, BBTT Foundation shares what drives their mission, the challenges young people face today, the stories that remind them why their work matters, and why Nigeria’s First Giving Festival is such an important moment for the teenagers they serve.
1. If someone is hearing about your organisation for the first time, how would you describe what you do?
Brighten and Build the Teens Foundation is a youth-focused nonprofit organisation committed to empowering teenagers and young adults, especially those in underserved communities.
We work through strategic interventions in three key areas: Education, Entrepreneurship and Employability, and Health and Wellness.
Our focus is on giving young people accurate information, life skills, supportive resources, and opportunities that help them make confident, healthy, and informed decisions.
Through our programs, we help teenagers build knowledge, resilience, and purpose while supporting girls with menstrual hygiene products and providing educational assistance to vulnerable children who need it most.
2. What are the biggest challenges teenagers in your community face?
Many teenagers struggle with limited access to life skills, guidance, and accurate information that helps them navigate adolescence confidently.
Common challenges include poor self-esteem, peer pressure, mental health concerns, exposure to harmful relationships, and limited support systems.
Girls often face additional barriers such as lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, leading to missed school days and low confidence.
At BBTT Foundation, we address these challenges by creating programmes that build emotional strength, confidence, and resilience. We offer financial support to keep children in school, provide life skills training, distribute sanitary pads, and run mindset-shaping programmes that help young people stay focused and make informed decisions.
3. Can you share a memorable story or project that reflects your impact?
One powerful example comes from our EXECUTEENS programme, which focuses on entrepreneurship and employability.
Miracle, a 16-year-old school leaver, completed our leadership and digital skills course and is now earning independently and supporting himself. His transformation shows how skills and guidance can open new paths for young people.
We also supported Bunmi, an orphan from Ilaro community in Ogun State, by providing school materials and financial assistance to keep her in school. Her continued education reflects the heart of our mission — ensuring young people can learn with dignity, hope, and a clear path forward.
These stories highlight the brighter, stronger future we work to create for every teenager we reach.
4. Why is participating in Nigeria’s First Giving Festival important to your organisation?
Nigeria’s First Giving Festival aligns deeply with our mission to uplift and empower teenagers.
The festival brings communities, organisations, and individuals together to celebrate generosity and collective action.
For BBTT Foundation, generosity goes beyond giving items — it’s about opening doors of opportunity and showing young people that they matter.
Being part of this historic event allows us to expand our reach, collaborate with like-minded partners, and inspire a culture of kindness, responsibility, and shared purpose.
5. What do you hope to achieve or highlight on December 2nd?
We hope to deepen community engagement by listening, learning, and connecting with families, young people, and partners who share our commitment to youth empowerment.
Our aim is to showcase the work of BBTT Foundation, strengthen relationships, and inspire more volunteers, supporters, and organisations to join us in creating opportunities for teenagers.
6. Which project or initiative will you be spotlighting during the festival?
We will be highlighting our Menstrual Hygiene Campaign, specifically the distribution of reusable sanitary pads to girls in underserved communities.
Many girls miss school or struggle with confidence because they lack access to menstrual hygiene products. Providing reusable pads offers a long-term, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution that supports their dignity, health, and continued education.
This initiative reflects our commitment to creating safe, supportive environments where girls can learn and thrive.
7. How can donors and supporters engage with your organisation on GivingTuesday?
Supporters can get involved by:
- Contributing financially to our programmes
- Volunteering during the festival
- Sharing our mission and creating awareness about our initiatives
Every form of support helps us reach more teenagers with education, life skills, menstrual hygiene resources, and opportunities.
8. What does this Giving Festival mean for the young people you serve?
Participating in Nigeria’s First Giving Festival amplifies our mission and extends the reach of our work.
For teenagers — especially vulnerable girls — the festival represents dignity, access, visibility, and hope.
It means more reusable pads reaching those who need them, more teenagers gaining life skills, more education support provided, and more communities rallying around their wellbeing.
The festival transforms generosity into tangible, long-lasting impact.
