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The establishment of SafeWorld Empowerment and Development Initiative (SWEDIWorld) in September 2024 marked the beginning of a journey to translate my academic grounding in Gender Studies into practical impact. What began as a vision informed by both scholarship and lived experience has, in just one year, grown into an organization that is creating meaningful change in communities.
As SafeWorld Empowerment and Development Initiative (SWEDIWorld) reaches its one-year anniversary, we reflect on twelve months of steady growth and tangible results. In our first year, we have:
•Engaged women and girls in underserved communities across Abuja Nasarawa and Benue State underserved communities.
•Advanced menstrual health and dignity through the SWEDI Care program, distributing dignity packs and supporting adolescent girls.
•Empowered smallholder women farmers with climate-smart agricultural tools and knowledge to strengthen food security.
•Convened workshops and seminars on gender equality, education, health, and environmental sustainability.
•Strengthened our institutional presence by opening a regional office in Makurdi to extend our reach and impact.
• Extended our advocacy to global spaces, including active participation in the Gender Action Plan at Bonn and Climate Week In Ethiopia Addis Ababa and contributions to the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), using storytelling to bring grassroots perspectives into international policy conversations.
This milestone is also a moment of gratitude. The leadership of our Board of Trustees has been invaluable in shaping our vision and providing direction. Many individuals have contributed significantly to this journey, from mentors to community champions, some named and many unnamed, all of whom we deeply acknowledge for their role in strengthening SafeWorld Empowerment and Development Initiative (SWEDIWorld).
We also recognize the importance of our institutional partners. Collaborations with the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), the Budget Office of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Environment and United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP) have enriched our work and expanded our reach. Alongside these, numerous other supporters and allies, though not individually named here, remain integral to our progress.
The first anniversary of SafeWorld Empowerment and Development Initiative (SWEDIWorld) is a mark of resilience, collaboration, and collective commitment. As we move into the next phase, we remain steadfast in our mission to amplify grassroots voices, deepen impact, and build inclusive solutions that respond to the lived realities of women, girls, and marginalized groups.
SafeWorld Empowerment and Development Initiative (SWEDIWorld) continues its journey with a clear vision: to create a world where women, girls, and marginalized communities have equal opportunities to thrive, lead, and contribute to sustainable development.