Longerthroat

preamble

Community development service (CDS) is one of the four cardinal programmes of NYSC in which Corp members contribute positively to the development of their host communities throughout the period of national service.

It is worthwhile mentioning that since its inception in 1973, the National Youth Service Corps has been making great contributions in the social, political and economic transformation of the nation. In recent times, the scheme has been in vanguard of the nation’s drive to correct the imbalance in our rural-urban development through the various community development programmes executed by Corp members. These programmes have revolutionized our communities in the areas of education, health care delivery, agriculture, communication, infrastructure, technology, economic empowerments, poverty eradication, social services and above all, national consciousness and socio-cultural regeneration.

B. Objectives of CDS

1. Impacting positively on the improvement of rural community life.

2. Developing the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Corp members.

3. To utilize the challenges which the rural development poses and inculcate in the Nigerian youth the ideas and capacities for leadership, endurance, selflessness, community service, national service, patriotism and creativity.

4. Exposing Corp members to diverse traditions and customs of the host communities.

5. Providing the forum for Corp members to experiment with ideas and translate them into concrete achievement and thereby relying less on foreign technology and encouraging the use of local raw materials in the execution of project.

6. Harnessing the enormous talents and skills of Corp members into an effective machinery of change in our rural communities.

7. Providing on-the-job training and experience for Corp members

8. Providing complementary service in our development activities, by ensuring that our under privilege population learn basic techniques for self-help through the appropriate technology concept being promoted by NYSC

9. To instil in Corp members the tradition of dignity of labour and productivity.

10. To complement the activities of government at all levels in the stride towards national development.

C. Classification of CDS

1a. Group community development service (group CDS)

Corp memebers are expected to use one day in a week for group CDS activities. They are not expected to attend duties in their places of primary assignment on CDS days. Such days are dedicated to the execution of projects and programms that will improve the living conditions of their host communities.

1b. CDS group, purpose and activities

S/N	CDS GROUPS	PURPOSE	ACTIVITIES
1	Corps Legal Aid Group(CLAG)	· Free legal service to the less privilege and indigent prison inmates (victims of denials and violation of rights) · Sensitization of the public on fundamental human rights	· Advocacy · Visit to prisons · Legal service to inmates and indigent persons · Public lecture and awareness of fundamental human rights.
2	Sports Group	· Creates avenue for recreation and healthy rivalry among Corp members and the community. · Arousing the consciousness of living healthy and purposeful lifestyles through participation in one form of physical activity or the other. · Identifying talents among Corp members.	· Participation in sport competitions · Identifying and training members of the community · Organizing sport competition
3	Cultural and Tourism Group (Band, Dance, Drama and Tourism)	· Promoting arts and culture · Dissemination of vital socio-economic and political problems and prospects	· Identifying talent · Entertainment · Setting up of the schemes theatre groups
4	Education Development Group (Mass Literacy, Adult Education, Extra murals ICT)	· Enhance the education standard of the host community. · Career guidance and counselling for students	· Campaign against illiteracy · Organizing Extra-murals classes for Adults. · Organizing of in-school programmes.
5	Environmental Protection and Sanitation Group (Ecovanguard, NESREA)	· To promote and sustain healthy environment · To create awareness on sustainable environment management and regeneration.	· Tree planting · Sanitation · Drainage control · Erosion control · Reforestation · Landscaping.
6	Editorial/Publicity Group	· Complement the activities if the NYSC PRU in disseminating information to the community	· Making presentation on mass media to enlighten people on socio-cultural education.
7	Road Safety Group	· To contribute to public safety on our roads	· Sensitization and control of traffic · Rendering first aid to accident victims · Establishing of road safety clubs in schools.
8	Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Group	· To train and mentor students · To mobilize and strengthen community base responses on HIV/AIDS prevention	· Sensitization and campaign
9	Anti-Corruption Group (EFCC & ICPC)	· To help in eradicating through corruption through campaign	· Sensitization · Creation of awareness in schools and organizations · Establish anti-corruption Corp members in schools
10	Service Selivery Group (attitudinal change, Re-branding)	· Sensitization on service delivery and good work ethics.	· Training · Sensitization · Group discussion on value re-orientation.
11	MDGs	· To create awareness and actualize the 8 goals of MDGs	· Advocacy and mentoring of the host community
12	Medical and Health Service Group (Red Cross, Breast without Spot, Polio Plus etc.)	· Promotion and provision of medical service	· Health outreach · First aid administration · Establishment of community based clinic · Setting up of clinic for the NYSC secretariat.
13	Drug free quality control Group (NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON)	· Eradication of fake and adulterated foods and drugs · Create awareness on danger of drug abuse	· Campaign and sensitization · Establishment of drug free clubs in schools · Ensuring linkages with the host communities.
14	Agro-allied Group	· Support agro-allied activities in the host communities · To promote better food production and security	· Demonstration farms/extension service · Establishment of farmers’ cooperative societies · Advocacy · Teaching of farmers new techniques to communities · Training and capacity building · Establishment of young farmers clubs in host communities.
15	Charity Service and Gender Group	· To improve the living standard of the down trodden · Charity outreach to the public	· Mobilize fund and resources for the less privileged · Visits of orphanages and prisons · Donation of material to homes
16	Disaster Management Group(NEMA)	· To create awareness on disaster management · To disseminate information on how to manage disaster through Corp emergency vanguards	· Public enlightenment on disaster management and control through the emergency vanguards. · Disaster management · Liaison with NEMA on how to assist during emergencies · Formation of emergency vanguard club in schools.