Held on 28th August 2010 at 18, Popoola Street, off Pedro Road, Bariga, Lagos State Nigeria.The programmed started around 12:00pm with an opening prayer by Evang. David. S. Thereafter, which the welcome address was taken by Ms. Mfon Essien Ezekiel the founder of the organization. She started by telling us what Launch Out Foundation is all about. Launch Out Foundation 1st hosted forum
LAUNCH OUT FOUNDATION is a non-governmental organization saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to the youths, and impacting lives, we believe we are life changing mechanism to our community and youth in particular. We strive to develop future leaders who are to bring positive impact in our communities.
OBJECTIVES: Our objective is a comprehensive one, derived from a desire: To reach out to students in Public Secondary and Primary schools, Orphanage homes, Community Gathering, Less Privileged, Prostitutes, and people living with HIV / AIDS.
VISION: Our vision is to be one of the best life changing mechanisms in our nation and the world.
FOCUS:
Our focus is more on showcasing the abilities and voices of young people, so that adults can learn more about what young people need and want in their communities.
To educate adult about the needs and potential of young people in the community and equipping young people to make a difference in the society.
Teaching young people about Developmental Asset, equipping them with skills and support to be effective young leaders and asking them to take action to make this nation a better place for young people.

PURPOSE:
Launch out Foundation also believes in the power of youth – adult partnerships we play an important role in “creating the space” and engaging youth in planning, implementing and giving young people a chance to talk with business leaders and exchange fresh ideas.
To educate youth about what is going on in the community and how they can make a difference and be leaders.
Some other benefits for setting up LAUNCH OUT FOUNDATION includes:
- Providing young people with the skill and knowledge to make a positive change;
- Understanding how to connect with adults or others as partners;
- Learning and sharing what others are already doing; for result oriented solution
- Energizing our community’s effort to support the youth; and
- Reinforcing participants’ personal commitment to their community;
- Participants receive very important benefits when they attend our training;
- It is also an opportunity to hear from young people who are working for positive youth development in their respective communities.
- A place to learn from other young people and adults about what works, what lessons they have learned, and what future asset-building possibilities they see for their community.
- A renewed energy to continue to make their community a place where young people succeed.
- We must note that when a group of young people and adults gets fired up to create positive change, it is good for the whole community!
Our last Event in August was tagged Community Gathering of Champions
Result from the Event: This gathering provided a forum for young people to meet, organize, network, learn new things, and share their hopes and concerns in a public setting. Youth wants more support on how to get involved in the society through a gathering such as this. At Launch Out Foundation, we see young people addressing the issues they care most about and issues that most often affect them directly. These issues might be school, neighborhood and youth serving organizations oriented. We see young people playing active roles in addressing issues and implementing positive solutions. Our inspiration and knowledge from these young people is what prompted the creation of this resource.
GUEST SPEAKER:
Mrs. Emem Abraham – Medical Doctor
Pastor Success – Motivation speaker
Mr. Obioma Achionye - Consultant
Number of Participant: About 40 people participated.
Upcoming Event: 28th December, 2010 @ Ikeja, Lagos.
We Can Make A Difference……..
A story was told about a starfish that had been washed up onto the beach and one at a time a friend was throwing them back into the water. ‘When asked while he was doing that.’ The man replied “I’m throwing these starfish back into the ocean. Because its low tide, all these starfish have been washed up onto shore. If I don’t throw them back into the sea, they’ll die up here from lack of oxygen” “I understand”, my friend replied, “but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach you can’t possibly get to all of them. There are simply too many. And don’t you realize this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches up and down this coast. Can’t you see that you can’t possibly make a difference?”
“It made a difference to that one!”
“If nothing is done positively about the predicament of orphaned and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS, we will all be at the mercy of street children, robbers, and felonious children who may plague us. So we have to set up a structure that will ensure that these youths become responsible members of the society”.
LAUNCH OUT greatly appreciates your support to see that we youth are partakers as Leaders of today, and not as many people say – of tomorrow as we impact our community’s, state, nation and the world. For further enquiries on how to support us or contact us through the following mediums: +2348030747529 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +2348030747529      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +2348030747529      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +2348032276092.
E.mail: launchoutfoundation@yahoo.com

by Mitch Temple If you are angry, afraid, resentful, jealous, or depressed, the fault may lie in your thinking. If you are angry, afraid, resentful, jealous, or depressed – in other words, if you are struggling with negative emotions – the fault may lie in your thinking. Cognitive therapists operate on the theory that distorted thinking lies at the root of most of these negative emotions. These therapists help their clients identify the distorted thinking, understand what is distorted about it, and then correct it so that emotional healing can begin. Here are some common distorted thoughts. Do any of them sound familiar? I must be approved and loved by all people. If things don't go the way I expect them to, then it's catastrophic. It's easier to avoid a problem than to deal with conflict. What has happened in the past will determine the future. If I make a mistake, it means that I am incompetent and that I am inferior to others. Things always turn out this way. You always act this way. You never treat me the way I deserve to be treated. You should always feel or act a certain way. Research shows that these thoughts can lead to serious problems, among them addictions and depression. I know. I've struggled with depression for most of my life, so I'm very familiar with distorted thinking. While growing up, I suspected I had a problem, but counselling was not smiled upon then, and I had no idea how to get help. I bet you can guess what happened when I got married. You got it. I didn't check my depression at the door. My moodiness, anger, and negativity moved into the Temple home. After ten years of marriage, Rhonda and I were desperate. I was extremely depressed and I worried about everything – even in my sleep. I often woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, but I couldn't go back to sleep because the anxiety from my dreams kept me awake. Sleep deprivation caused me to be contentious and on edge. I lost forty pounds, became physically ill, and experienced constant nausea. When I thought I had cancer or another terminal illness, I visited numerous doctors without a diagnosis. Finally, an internal medicine specialist from India gave me an answer. "Mr. Temple," he said in accented English, "you don't have a physical problem. You have an emotional problem. You have developed an anxiety disorder, and you are also very depressed. You must get help or you may die." After weeks of denial, I knew he was right, so I finally got the help I needed. The counselor I visited convinced me to take depression medication, even though I was terrified of becoming addicted. I spoke with my good friend Jeff Mathis, MD, who alleviated my concerns. He said that most antidepressants are not addictive and should be a bridge, not a crutch, to help navigate through a dark emotional valley. Because my marriage, family, faith, and job were on the line, I was willing to do whatever was necessary. The result? Over time, I became a better husband. And the way I saw myself, Rhonda, and others improved. I was transformed. Through my experience I learned that because I suffered from depression, I could not see myself or my wife realistically. I felt as if I were stumbling around in dark rooms – wearing sunglasses. I couldn't see myself as God sees me. I felt that I could not be good enough, faithful enough, or spiritual enough – no matter what the Bible says. These kinds of beliefs, based on myths and distorted thinking, led me to depression and hopelessness. They can also lead us to accept Satan's lie that you are not worthy of grace and can cause us to act in ways that we'll regret. This is typical in a marriage where a spouse is depressed. Though a depressed husband is committed to marriage, he won't feel good about his wife and, therefore, won't treat her well. If the non-depressed wife does not understand what is happening, she will make the situation worse by assuming that her husband is mean or doesn't care about the marriage or that he can easily change how he feels and acts. In reality, change can be almost impossible for a depressed person. Until the depressed spouse receives proper treatment, he or she cannot interact with you in a healthy way. Depression is a very serious illness, which if left untreated can destroy a marriage in a short period of time. Many marriages today are in trouble because one or both spouses struggle with severe depression. Until these couples address and treat depression, it will be difficult to learn new relational skills to strengthen their marriage. If you suspect that you, or your spouse, suffer from depression, seek help together. Focus on the Family provides free counselling referrals, or email them at: correspondence@fotf.co.za (A caveat is in order here. Depression and other emotional problems can be caused by factors other than distorted thinking. Chemical and sugar imbalances, stress, lack of sleep, even thyroid disorders can also be precipitators of depression. When issues like these are involved, they must be assessed, diagnosed, and treated by a medical professional.) You may not struggle with depression. But distorted thinking, because it is so subtle and rooted in the way you look at yourself and your spouse, has the potential to eat away at your marriage.