Youth and Children’s Development
Annual Children’s Christmas Party
Celebrating children, encouraging their talents and supporting families
first celebration
families received food at Christmas 2024
Project Feed joined the celebration
Christmas offers an opportunity to bring children together, celebrate their abilities and share the joy of the season. GIPSED’s Annual Children’s Christmas Party combines entertainment with educational activities, creating a community occasion where children can learn, participate and have fun.
Since 2018, Dr Michael Olugbile and the team have organized the celebrations in collaboration with GIPSED, the Society for Positive Change (SPC) and Team DMO. From 2023, the programme incorporated Project Feed, extending the celebration to include food support for families.
Learning and talent at the heart of the celebration
The parties provide opportunities for children to demonstrate their knowledge, express their creativity and enjoy activities alongside their peers. Programme activities have included:
Inter-school quiz competitions.
Spelling competitions.
Children’s talent shows.
Dancing competitions.
Father Christmas appearances, gifts and other festive activities.
The celebrations also connect with GIPSED’s commitment to education. Some outstanding participants have received scholarships through DMO Scholars, turning recognition during the festivities into continuing support for their schooling.
How the programme began
The first celebration took place in 2018. The second annual edition followed on 23 December 2019 at Okuku Town Hall, bringing together educational competitions, entertainment and gifts for participating children.
The planned 2020 edition was cancelled. Celebrations resumed in 2021 and were held again in 2022, continuing the programme’s place in the community’s Christmas activities.
2023 — Introducing Project Feed
In 2023, GIPSED combined the Children’s Christmas Party with Project Feed at Christmas. This brought food support for families into the programme alongside the activities organized for children.
The celebration took place on 23 December 2023 in front of Okuku Town Hall. Children participated in talent displays, spelling and dancing competitions, and a Father Christmas show.
By incorporating Project Feed, the programme connected the enjoyment of the celebration with practical support for household needs during the festive season.
2024 — Reaching 238 families with food support
On 24 December 2024, the team hosted the annual celebration in front of Okuku Town Hall, once again combining children’s activities with Project Feed.
The food-support component initially aimed to reach 200 families. By the end of the programme, 238 families had received food items for Christmas, exceeding that target.
Children enjoyed festive activities, including talent displays, spelling and dancing competitions, and a Father Christmas appearance. The event continued the programme’s approach of celebrating children while supporting the families around them.
The people behind the celebrations
The annual programme depends on the commitment of GIPSED’s field team, volunteers and community collaborators, who organize activities and coordinate support for participating families.
The 2024 programme report recognized Seun Abimbola Olaniyan, Rhoda Ojo, Toyin Adesoye, Adedokun Akeem, Emmanuel Awotola and other team members for their contribution.
Their work brings together the educational activities, entertainment and food distribution that make the celebration possible.
Annual celebrations and milestones
| Year | Programme activity |
|---|---|
| 2018 | First Children’s Christmas Party held |
| 2019 | Second annual celebration held on 23 December at Okuku Town Hall |
| 2020 | Planned celebration cancelled |
| 2021 | Annual Children’s Christmas Party held |
| 2022 | Annual Children’s Christmas Party held |
| 2023 | Celebration held on 23 December, with Project Feed incorporated into the programme |
| 2024 | Celebration held on 24 December; 238 families received food items through Project Feed |
The 238 families reached in 2024 are food-support beneficiaries. This figure does not represent the number of children attending the party.
Celebrations in pictures
A dedicated gallery for each documented year will feature children’s activities, competitions, performances, presentations and the organizing team. From 2023 onward, the galleries will also include Project Feed activities as part of the annual celebration.
Original flyers and photographs will tell the programme’s story, with captions identifying the year, location and occasion. Attendance figures and details of scholarships awarded will be added as records become available.
Through the Annual Children’s Christmas Party, GIPSED creates opportunities to celebrate children’s potential, share time as a community and extend support to families during the festive season.
From our communities
The programme in pictures
