Leadership becomes more meaningful when it is experienced, not just taught.

On Thursday, August 20, 2026, participants of LEAP Africa’s 2026 LEAD The Way Summer Camp visited the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) as part of their Change Project, gaining firsthand experience of how service, teamwork, and active citizenship can create meaningful impact within communities.

The visit began with a tour of the Lagos Food Bank warehouse in Mangoro, Ikeja, where the participants were introduced to the organisation’s operations and the work that goes into delivering food assistance to families facing food insecurity. The tour offered the young leaders an opportunity to see the systems, people, and processes behind LFBI’s humanitarian interventions.

They then moved from observation to participation, working alongside LFBI staff and volunteers to pack food boxes for distribution through the Temporary Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). With enthusiasm and teamwork, the participants took on the task, bringing youthful energy to the warehouse and experiencing the value of collective effort firsthand.

The experience formed part of LEAP Africa’s LEAD the Way programme, which is designed to equip young people with the skills, mindset, and confidence to become ethical and transformative leaders. Through the Change Project, participants are encouraged to engage directly with real community challenges and explore how they can contribute to solving them.

For the participants, the visit offered more than an introduction to food banking. It gave them a closer look at the realities of food insecurity and an opportunity to contribute, however briefly, to an intervention supporting families in need. Their participation demonstrated that meaningful leadership can begin with something as simple as showing up, working together, and being willing to serve.

The visit reflects LFBI’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people to understand humanitarian work and develop a deeper sense of responsibility towards their communities. As the LEAD the Way participants continue their Change Project journey, their time at the Lagos Food Bank serves as a practical reminder that leadership is not only about what we learn, but what we choose to do with it.