Safe spaces for women & girls
A place women and girls can come to, sit down, talk and feel safe. When someone needs more than we can give, we connect them to health, legal or other services and follow up.
Maiduguri · Borno State · Nigeria
A protection organisation
A safe place to heal.
Sawule Foundation is a protection organisation based in Maiduguri. We work with women, children and families affected by the conflict in Borno, so they can be safe, get help when they need it, and recover among their own people.
(01) Why we startedFrom Borno,
for Borno
for Borno
We are from Borno. We have seen what the years of conflict did to our families, and we know that being safe is more than the shooting stopping. It is a girl walking to school without fear, a mother with someone to talk to, a child who can play outside again.
(02) Our work
Protection first.
Everything we do comes back to one question: is this person safer, and are they getting the help they need?
All our workGender-based violence
We talk with communities about violence against women and girls before it happens, and we stand with survivors after. Their choices are respected and what they share stays private.
Child protection
We look out for children who are separated from their families, out of school or at risk of harm, and work with parents, teachers and leaders to keep them safe.
Mental health & psychosocial support
Counselling, group sessions and plain talk about mental health, so people can speak about what they have been through without shame.
Peace & community dialogue
Many communities are living side by side again after years apart. We bring people together to talk, to settle differences and to rebuild trust.
Women, youth & livelihoods
Being able to earn a living and having someone to look up to both make people safer. We support women and young people with skills, mentors and a place to belong.
(03) How we help
From the first conversation to the follow-up.
Most people who come to us have already been through a lot. We keep the process simple, private and in their hands, and we stay with them until they have the help they came for.
01
Reach
We go into communities and meet women’s groups, young people and leaders, so people know we are here and where to find us.
02
Listen
Anyone who comes to us is heard in private, at their own pace. Nothing is shared without their permission.
03
Support
We give what we can directly: a safe space, someone to talk to, counselling and practical advice.
04
Refer & follow up
When someone needs health care, legal help or shelter, we connect them to the right service and check back on them.
If you need help
You don’t have to go through it alone.
Whatever has happened, it is not your fault. Call us, send a message, or come to our office. You can also send someone you trust to speak for you.
(04) Who we areFrom here,
From here,
for here.
Sawule was started in Maiduguri by people from Borno who wanted to do something for their own communities. Every naira we receive goes into the work.
ZA
Trustee · Secretary
Zainab Ajimi Badu
FB
Chair, Board of Trustees
Fatima Yetcha Ajimi Badu
AB
Trustee
Abba Bulama
(05) Partner with us
Let’s work together.
We are a young organisation and we cannot do this alone. If you work in Borno, whether in government, a humanitarian agency, an NGO, a university or as a community leader, we would like to hear from you.
Ways to get involved
Registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission
Incorporated Trustee
IT No. 9672267
Registered 10 July 2026
Active