What We Do
Human rights clubs/ groups
CWSI’s Human Rights/ gender training have created the needed awareness to the women and girls in particular on their rights and responsibilities as human beings and citizens, empowering them to speak out for themselves.
This group have been formed in many of the schools and communities, the human right advocates are drawn from volunteering youths. This group has been animated and trained severally by CWSI to champion and anchor her human rights activities in the states of their intervention
Correctional Centres Decongestion
The Nigerian Correctional facilities across the country accommodate above the required number of inmates. Majority of these inmates are awaiting trial, unable to access legal aid lawyers, incapable of meeting bail conditions or securing legal services.
As part of our humanitarian work, Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) engages in decongesting the Correctional Centres by assisting in the release of offenders of trivial issues due for release. So far, inmates freed from Correctional Centres across Nigeria have benefitted from the intervention.
Psychosocial Support/Trauma Counseling
Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other forms of abuses on women and girls have impacts on their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. In this context, CWSI plays an important role in providing psychosocial support and trauma counseling for victims.
CWSI’s Paralegals
These are persons who have been trained by the Centre in subsidiary legal matters. Though they are not lawyers, they are trained to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of the law and procedures, and they are grassroots advocates for women’s rights. While the paralegals operate legal clinics and intervene in domestic matters through Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) in there various communities, the human right groups on the other hand track, monitor, intervene and report
Women Empowerment Groups
Women in Delta, Cross River, Ebonyi and Kogi states in their associations such as Association of Delta Women Empowerment (ADWE), Cross River Women Empowerment Network (CWEN), Ebonyi Women Empowerment (EWEN) and Kogi Women Empowerment Coalition (KWEC) respectively have become formidable forces to be reckoned with in their various communities through trainings and intervention by the Centre over the years. In spite of all these efforts and achievements, there is still a lot of work to be done.
Even though on paper the 35% affirmative action in leadership has been adopted, the number of women in decision making positions have continued to decrease rather than increase. In this area, CWSI is working assiduously towards a change in the gross under-representation of women both in elective and appointive positions. CWSI through its Kogi Women Empowerment Coalition (KWEC) was able to encourage greater participation of women in politics with keen minds. Between 2015-2019, three (3) female commissioners were appointed. Twelve (12) women picked the tickets for the primaries and five (5) contested for the elections.
In Kogi state, CWSI in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs is working towards the passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities bill, all in a bid to give women, girls and the vulnerable a voice in the society. The story is the same for the women in Delta and Cross River states where women groups such as Association of Delta Women Empowerment (ADWE) and Cross River Women Empowerment Network (CWEN) respectively are advancing the promotion of the rights of women.
Rural Entrepreneur Scheme
CWSI has created the needed awareness of how far women can go in any sector. Equal participation of women in all spheres of life is necessary for sustainable development and poverty reduction. There is then the dire need to make women economically self-reliant.
CWSI in an effort to help women achieve financial sustainability started the Rural Entrepreneur Scheme (RES) which has benefited over 5, 000 Women.
Skills Acquisition
To promote independence and self-reliance of women and girls, CWSI engages in skills acquisition programmes for women empowerment among which are basic trade skills and computer training programmes set up by the Centre on basic knowledge and other innovative computer packages. These projects have uplifted many beneficiaries and CWSI hopes to continue with it.
CWSI Rice Mill in Ibaji LGA, Kogi
CWSI with financial support from one of our donors has built a Rice Mill in Ibaji in Idah local government area to help alleviate the sufferings and difficulties women of the community who are mainly rice farmers face trying to get their products ready for the market.
The rice mill project has experienced some challenges but CWSI is hopeful that the project will soon pick up to achieve the purpose for which it was established, which is to give succor to the women of the area, one of the major challenges is the finance for full take-off.
Between 2002 and 2011, with support from the German NGO Solidarity with Women in Distress (SOLWODI), CWSI facilitated the reintegration of two returnees, laying the foundation for its commitment to migration issues.
Migration, a fundamental aspect of human existence, is a key area of CWSI’s work, particularly due to the growing challenges faced by women and girls, including trafficking, child labor, exploitation, and abuse.
CWSI facilitates the reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other migrants through awareness programs, psychosocial support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and relief assistance to ease their economic burden.
Additionally, CWSI, in collaboration with the Augustinian Centre for Advocacy, Justice, and Peace (ACAJP), convened the Civil Society Network on Migration and Development (CSOnetMADE) and actively implements initiatives in partnership with the network.
Some CSOs share similar vision with CWSI, such organizations were identified based on their mission. CWSI builds synergy with them for effective service delivery. This is against the premise that results are better attained when resources are pulled together with common purpose.
Each CSO has an area of specialty which enriches collaboration and networking. Information sharing among CSOs has greatly enhanced our corporate existence.
Engagement with international NGOs is based on CWSI’s interest which is aligned with her vision. At the point of engagement, CWSI share expertise and useful information to support each other based on comparative advantage. CWSI also engages International NGOs and participates in international NGOs platforms and programmes.
CWSI’s United Nations (UN) youth representatives from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, USA play an active role in representing the interest of CWSI at the UN by participating fully in the programmes and giving updates to CWSI.
We recognize the urgent need for an inclusive society where persons with disabilities (PWDs) can exercise their rights without barriers. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and livelihood empowerment, we work to dismantle systemic discrimination and promote equal opportunities for PWDs.
Our initiatives focus on raising awareness of disability rights, addressing gender-based violence against PWDs, and equipping them with vocational skills to enhance economic independence. By fostering an environment of inclusion, we empower individuals with disabilities to participate fully in social, economic, and political life, ensuring that no one is left behind.
CWSI promotes Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) to enhance food security, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers. Through capacity-building training and resource support, CWSI equips farmers with climate-resilient practices such as drought-resistant cropping, efficient water management, and soil conservation techniques.
The organization also fosters market linkages to ensure the long-term impact of its interventions. By integrating CSA into its programs, CWSI empowers communities to adapt to climate change while improving agricultural productivity and economic stability.
Contact Us Now!
For any inquiries or to learn more about how you can support our mission, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Email:
Phone Number:
Location:
P.O Box 4686 Flat 2, Block 3, Bichi Close, off Sokoto Street, Area 1 Section 1, Garki, Abuja