August 13, 2025
At the Candlelight Foundation for Children with Special Needs (CLSN), we believe every child has a unique light waiting to shine. While our community outreach and awareness campaigns are vital, the true transformation happens in the quiet, dedicated work of our therapy and support services. Through programs like behavioral, occupational, and speech therapy, we are turning potential into progress for children from underserved communities. These aren’t just clinical sessions; they are moments where silent worlds open, hesitant steps become confident, and families rediscover joy.
The results? Nothing short of transformational. With your support, we can keep these life-changing transformations going. The story of Ola and his mother, Sarah, is a powerful testament to both the impact of our work and why we need your help.
In a chat with Teni, one of CLSN’s dedicated therapists, who was assigned to Ola. “When I first met him, he wouldn’t make eye contact or respond to his name,” Teni says, her eyes bright with pride. “But every child has a spark. My job is to find it.” Teni used behavioral therapy to help Ola with emotional regulation and social skills. She describes a breakthrough moment: “One day, after months of gentle encouragement, he grabbed a toy and said, ‘ball.’ I nearly cried. It was like he was saying, ‘I’m here, and I’m ready to connect.’”
Through speech and language therapy, Ola began to communicate. Feeding therapy helped him overcome his aversion to certain foods, making mealtimes less stressful for Sarah. “Each small step felt like a miracle,” Teni adds. “But it’s not just therapy; it’s the donors who make these moments possible.”
“It wasn’t easy o,” Sarah begins, her voice still heavy with the weight of past struggles. She remembers the overwhelming anxiety of raising her three-year-old son, Ola, who has autism. For years, she navigated a world of whispers and closed doors. “People would ask, ‘Is this how he’ll grow up?’ I ran from one pastor to another, hearing ‘pray harder.’ I even visited spiritual houses, but all proved abortive. Schools rejected him, and I felt trapped, like I was failing my boy. Even my husband’s family meant well, but they didn’t understand.”
As a trader in Lagos, Sarah hustled through the day to keep food on the table, then spent countless sleepless nights online, researching therapies she could barely afford. “Ha! One school quoted a fee more than my husband and I could earn in a year,” she says, shaking her head.
Then, a flyer for the Candlelight Foundation for Children with Special Needs (CLSN) at a church program became her lifeline. “My hands were shaking when I called,” Sarah recalls, “but the voice on the other end didn’t just promise help; they gave me hope.” CLSN connected her with Tenidade, a dedicated therapist who saw Ola’s potential.
At CLSN, we provide holistic, evidence-based therapies tailored to each child’s needs:
These services, often unaffordable for families like Sarah’s, are life-changing. Your donations don’t just fund a session; they fuel breakthroughs. So far, CLSN has supported over 150 children, with 80% showing measurable progress. We need your help to reach even more.
Ola’s story is one of many. Every naira you donate provides a therapy session. Every donation equips a child with learning tools. Every gift transforms despair into possibility. At CLSN, we’re more than a foundation—we’re a family walking alongside kids and parents, lighting up futures one step at a time.
Will you help us keep the light burning?
To give children like Ola a chance to shine. Or share this story to inspire others. Together, we can make miracles happen.
Thank you for believing in brighter futures.
