Save the slum initiative

09/10/2026

09/10/2026

Save The Slum Initiative celebrates the successful completion of the rehabilitation and solarisation of 50 boreholes across Akwa Ibom State.

From Uyo to Ini, Nsit Atai and Ibeno, this intervention is helping communities move closer to reliable, sustainable and cleaner water access. But this milestone is not just about infrastructure. It is about the families who now have improved access to water. It is about children growing up with healthier surroundings. It is about communities gaining infrastructure they can depend on. And it is about creating solutions that can continue to serve people long after the project is completed.

We are grateful to our partners, community leaders, local stakeholders, our dedicated team, and every community member who contributed to making this achievement possible. Today, we celebrate the work, the people, and the communities at the heart of this milestone.

50 BOREHOLES REHABILITATED.

CLEANER WATER. HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. A STRONGER FUTURE. 💧☀️

Supported by EDP | A2E CSR Fund

07/10/2026

Some of the most difficult conversations are the ones communities have been having for generations. Conversations about tradition, expectations and what a girl must go through to be accepted.

Not every harmful practice survives because people want to cause harm. Sometimes, it survives because it has been passed down from one generation to another without enough space to question it. People simply repeat what they were taught, community members may recognise the harm but not know how to challenge a deeply rooted belief. Local organisations may be willing to help but still need the right knowledge, confidence and practical tools.

This is why ending FGM requires more than awareness. It requires informed communities, trusted voices and people equipped to start the conversations that can lead to change. It was against this understanding that Save the Slum Initiative conducted the “Eradicating Female Ge***al Mutilation Through Community Engagement and Capacity Building in Kaduna State”.

As part of this effort, a 2 day capacity building training for 15 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and local NGOs in Makarfi LGA, Kaduna State, focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of FGM prevention strategies and their ability to engage their communities.

Over the two days, participants explored the realities surrounding FGM, discussed prevention approaches, asked difficult questions and shared perspectives on how meaningful conversations can take place within their communities.

This is because community engagement is not simply about telling people that a practice must end. It is about understanding why beliefs persist, create room for questions, help parents and community members make informed decisions. It is also about giving local organisations the knowledge and practical approaches they need to become stronger voices for prevention and that change is more sustainable when communities themselves are part of the conversation.

With UNFPA, the Kaduna State Government and Save the Slum Initiative represented within this effort, the training brought together local actors around a common purpose: strengthening community capacity to prevent FGM and protect girls from its harmful consequences. But two days is only the starting point. The real work continues beyond the training room; in homes, community meetings, conversations with parents, engagements with leaders, and the everyday moments when someone decides to question a harmful belief rather than pass it on.

One informed conversation can open the door to another. One empowered community actor can influence another. And together, these efforts can help create an environment where girls are able to grow up with their health, dignity, safety and future protected.

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02/10/2026

What does it take to prevent a harmful practice that can have consequences long after the moment it happens? It starts with understanding the issue but it cannot end there.

Female ge***al mutilation (FGM) involves procedures that intentionally alter or injure the female ge***al organs for non medical reasons. It has no health benefits and can result in serious consequences, including severe bleeding, infections, menstrual difficulties and complications during childbirth.

But knowledge alone does not automatically change a practice. Where beliefs, social expectations and misinformation influence decisions, prevention also depends on trusted people who can engage communities, answer difficult questions and help create space for informed conversations.

That was the focus of a two day training in Ikara LGA, Kaduna State, bringing together 15 community based organisations and focal NGOs to strengthen their understanding of FGM prevention strategies. The training formed part of Save The Slum Initiative project, “Eradicating Female Ge***al Mutilation Through Community Engagement and Capacity Building in Kaduna State,” with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The choice to work with local organisations was important. These are actors connected to the communities where conversations around harmful practices actually take place. So the work was not simply about delivering another awareness message. It was about strengthening knowledge, encouraging meaningful engagement and equipping local actors to contribute to prevention efforts.

There is no single training that can end FGM. But every informed conversation, every community voice and every organisation better equipped to engage on the issue can contribute to the wider effort to protect girls and women.

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01/10/2026

🇳🇬 Happy 66th Independence Anniversary, Nigeria! 🇳🇬

At Save the Slum Initiative, we mark this day with pride in our country and a renewed commitment to the people who are too often left behind.

Sixty-six years after independence, true progress is measured by whether every Nigerian, including those in our most underserved communities, can live with dignity, safety and opportunity. Behind every slum community are resilient people, hardworking families, determined women and youth, and children with big dreams. They are not statistics. They are the strength of this nation.

Today we celebrate that resilience, and we recommit to working with communities, partners and government to build a Nigeria where no one is left behind.

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! 💚🤍💚

30/09/2026

The world is becoming more digital, one everyday task at a time. From applying for opportunities to preparing documents, communicating professionally and organising information, digital tools are becoming part of how we learn, work and connect. But having access to a computer is only one part of the equation.

The question is whether everyone has the confidence and skills to use that technology meaningfully. For someone who is unfamiliar with spreadsheets, unsure how to prepare a presentation or simply hesitant to explore a digital tool, even a routine task can become a barrier.

That is why Save the Slum Initiative’s Digital Literacy Skills Programme focuses on practical learning that builds both skills and confidence. The programme creates space to develop useful digital competencies. From working with documents and spreadsheets to organising information, interpreting data and presenting ideas effectively. The goal is not simply to teach people which buttons to click. It is to help make digital tools familiar, practical and usable in everyday life because, learning becomes more valuable when people can apply it independently.

The journey moves from having access to digital tools, to learning how to use them, building confidence, applying those skills in real situations, and ultimately opening up new opportunities. As more aspects of education, communication and everyday opportunities move online, digital confidence becomes increasingly important.

Sometimes, progress begins with something simple: trying a new tool, asking a question, solving a problem and realising, “I can do this.” That is the kind of confidence worth building.

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