Safe Child Africa

15/09/2026

We’re excited to welcome our pupils back for the 21st academic year — and this year is a very special one, with a record enrolment of 241 pupils! 🎉

The Stepping Stones Model School provides children in the Niger Delta with access to an outstanding education, giving them the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to build a brighter future and break the cycle of poverty.

Our unique model makes this possible by combining scholarships for children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with affordable fees for other families. This year, 40% of our pupils are receiving scholarships, while the remaining families pay a small termly fee that helps contribute towards the cost of providing their education.

For more than two decades,Stepping Stones Model School has shown what is possible when children are given the opportunity to learn in a safe, supportive and high-quality school environment.

14/09/2026

We are delighted to announce a new partnership between Safe Child Africa and the Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI) to help improve educational opportunities for some of the most marginalised children in Northern Nigeria.

The Almajiri system has a long history of providing Qur’anic education to children across Northern Nigeria. However, many children within the system have little or no access to formal education, leaving them without the literacy, numeracy and other skills they need to participate fully in society. Many are also exposed to poverty, exploitation, abuse and life on the streets.

The scale of the challenge is enormous. UNICEF estimates that one in every five of the world's out-of-school children is in Nigeria, with educational access particularly challenging in the north.

That is why we are so pleased to be working with ACRI, whose important work focuses on protecting the rights of Almajiri and other vulnerable children and advocating for their access to quality education.

Through this partnership, Safe Child Africa will support ACRI's efforts to strengthen educational opportunities for Almajiri children, helping to ensure that children who have historically been excluded from formal education can develop the foundational skills they need to build brighter futures.

We are incredibly excited to begin this journey with ACRI and look forward to working together to help educate, protect and empower the next generation of children in Northern Nigeria.

Please check out their website here https://advancingchildrenrights.org/

ALMAJIRIProject.com .Advocating for the Abandonment of Almajirinci in Nig

17/08/2026

We are proud to partner with Advocacy For Alleged Witches-AFAW in challenging the harmful beliefs and practices surrounding accusations of witchcraft in Nigeria.

AfAW’s recent work in Imo State highlights the devastating impact of witchcraft-related ostracisation and the urgent need to protect the rights and dignity of those affected.

At Safe Child Africa, we believe no child or adult should face abuse, exclusion or discrimination because of accusations of witchcraft.

Together with AfAW, we are committed to building safer, more inclusive communities where everyone can live with dignity and without fear.

(AfAW) has called for the protection and restoration of the rights of people who were ostracized from their community over alleged witchcraft

21/07/2026

!!!JUSTICE FOR DEBORAH!!!

Back in February 2025, we were alerted to this horrific murder of a young girl, Deborah Bassey, who was murdered by her father, a pastor in a local church following a false accusation of witchcraft. Safe Child Africa supported our partners Basic Rights Counsel Initiative to cover the costs of exhuming her body and carrying out an autopsy.

After a long, gruelling and traumatic experience, which has required incredibly high levels of professionalism and commitment from the team at Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, we are proud that a judge yesterday found the father guilty of her murder.

This is yet another important step in the fight to prevent innocent children from being accused of witchcraft and we commend all of the government agencies that have help secure this landmark conviction. The fight to eradicate such harmful beliefs and practices continues!

Crossriverwatch Cross River State Police command
Pastors For PACTAdvocacy For Alleged Witches-AFAWAfrican Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks

26/06/2026

It is 20 years now since we started the PACT (Prevent Abuse of Children Today) Campaign.

Over the years, PACT has helped to achieve remarkable change:

✅ Successfully lobbied for the enactment and implementation of the Child Rights Act in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, providing stronger legal protection for children.

✅ Worked alongside law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for abusing children—including pastors promoting harmful witchcraft accusations—were held accountable, leading to numerous arrests and prosecutions.

✅ Trained and mentored hundreds of pastors, equipping faith leaders to challenge harmful beliefs, promote child rights and protect vulnerable children within their communities.

✅ Helped inspire the global movement that culminated in the first United Nations resolution on the elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, bringing international recognition to an issue that had long been ignored.

✅ Raised awareness across Nigeria and beyond, helping transform child witchcraft accusations from an accepted practice into a recognised child protection and human rights issue.

Nearly two decades later, the work continues. Today, one of our strongest partnerships remains with one of the most influential groups in society—pastors. Every pastor who chooses compassion over accusation becomes a powerful advocate for children.

Viva Pastors for PACT and all those still supporting the PACT campaign today!

Pastors For PACT Basic Rights Counsel Initiative Pacti Akwa Ibom Advocacy For Alleged Witches-AFAW Street Mentors Network

18/06/2026

This is the 42nd child r**e conviction that our friends and partners at Basic Rights Counsel Initiative have now secured in Nigeria.🤩

Such cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute and the fact that we have been able to secure so many of them is testament to the outstandingly high levels of professionalism, dedication, endurance and sacrifice that the BRCI lawyers, social workers and community advocates possess. 💪

Kudos to by Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu, Cross River State Police command and Government of Cross River State Nigerian for these positive steps towards a Nigeria where all children are protected from such harm. 👏👏👏

The Family Court II, presided over by Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu, has convicted Endurance Ime Sandy (41years) for the r**e of an 11year old child. The convict has accordingly been sentenced to life imprisonment.

We express our sincere appreciation to the Nigerian Army (13 Brigade, Calabar), the Nigeria Police Force, Cross River State, the Honorable Attorney General of Cross River State, Etubom Ededem Ani, and the staff and volunteers of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative for the invaluable support they provided to the investigators and the child throughout the course of this case. A big thank you to Okoi Ukam,Esq and Mrs Linda Asuquo.

We also extend our gratitude to the Cross River State Government for its unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring their safety.
Instablog9ja
Lindaikejiblog
Safe Child Africa
Crossriverwatch

10/06/2026

Our Pastors for Preventing Abuse of Children Today (PACT) team continue to work tirelessly to visit churches and preach the message of child protection, whilst looking to challenge the belief that children can be witches.

Safe Child Africa remains deeply committed to working to address the root causes of child abuse and, as such, are excited about this project's potential to bring about positive change in the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

Please help show your support for this initiative by following the Pastors For PACT group and sharing this message widely🫶


Advocacy For Alleged Witches-AFAW
International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks
Basic Rights Counsel Initiative

21/05/2026

We are deeply grateful to our incredible partners, Advocacy For Alleged Witches-AFAW for stepping in and taking action in a heartbreaking case of child abuse that recently went viral online.

Because of their swift intervention, the man posing as a “prophet” who had been abusing this innocent child was arrested by the Ebonyi State Police Command. Most importantly, the child was rescued and is now receiving medical care and support.

No child should ever have to endure such cruelty, fear, or pain.

At Safe Child Africa, we remain committed to standing with our partners to protect vulnerable children and ensure that those who commit abuse are held accountable.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/12/ebonyi-police-arrest-prophet-over-viral-child-abuse-video/

18/05/2026

Our awesome partners, Street Mentors Network , continue to bring hope and positivity to the lives of Street children in Akwa Ibom State via their Rising Stars FC football project.

What started as a small kickabout with a handful of boys has now become a much more professional operation with over 60 kids coming to play on a Sunday now with kit, balls and equipment provided thanks to Safe Child Africa support.

Football provides a great gateway to help build relationships with such children and, through doing this, we are able to better understand and then try to meet their needs.

All Kudos to Prince, Anita and the SMN team for their outstanding efforts here. Onwards and upwards!

13/05/2026

20 years after being established, our pupils in the Stepping Stones Model School in Nigeria continue to read and write with joy thanks to Jolly Phonics.

The school was the inspiration for what has now become Africa's larget English literacy project - Jolly Phonics. Universal Learning Solutions, the organisation that runs the project, was established by Safe Child Africa founders, Gary and Naomi Foxcroft and their colleague Dr Louise Jolly, following the success of Jolly Phonics at the school and continues to thrive.

To date, over 251,000 teachers and 7100 government officials have now been trained in this fast track literacy method, thereby transforming millions of lives. It is incredibly humbling to see how this all started and know that our pupils are still thriving.

With literacy our pupils life chances are improved immeasurably and we believe this is one of the best ways we can transform lives and futures. The "seed" that we planted all these years ago has now become a veritable rainforest and we remain grateful to all the teachers, parents, pupils and supporters who have made this epic change possible.