Safeguarding Dignity, Protecting Lives

Save the Slum Initiative (STSI) places the protection of human dignity, safety, and rights at the heart of its work across Nigeria. In communities affected by poverty, displacement, conflict, and social exclusion, STSI’s protection programmes are designed to prevent harm, respond to abuse and exploitation, and strengthen the ability of families and communities to keep their most vulnerable members safe. Guided by survivor-centered, rights-based, and community-led principles, STSI works to ensure that children, women, and other at-risk populations can live free from violence, fear, and neglect.

Nigeria’s protection landscape is shaped by complex and overlapping challenges, including insecurity, weak social services, harmful cultural norms, and limited access to justice. In urban slums and crisis-affected areas where STSI operates, women and children are particularly exposed to gender-based violence, child labour, early marriage, trafficking, and abuse. Fear of stigma and lack of trust in formal systems often prevent survivors from seeking help. STSI responds to these realities by building trust at the community level and placing dignity, confidentiality, and informed consent at the center of all protection actions.

STSI’s protection work takes a holistic approach that combines prevention, response, and system strengthening. Through child protection services, the organization identifies and supports children at risk, prevents harmful practices, and promotes safe family care and nurturing environments. Survivor-centered gender-based violence interventions provide safe pathways for disclosure, psychosocial support, and referrals to health, legal, and social services, while engaging men, boys, and community leaders to challenge norms that perpetuate violence.

Central to STSI’s approach is strong case management and referral systems that ensure individuals receive timely, appropriate, and coordinated support tailored to their specific needs. At the same time, STSI invests in community-based protection mechanisms by training local volunteers, supporting protection committees, and strengthening links between communities and service providers. This community ownership helps ensure protection efforts are sustainable and culturally grounded.

Recognizing the deep emotional impact of violence, displacement, and chronic poverty, STSI integrates psychosocial support and mental wellbeing into all protection activities. Safe spaces, group and individual support, and referrals for specialized care help survivors and affected individuals heal, rebuild resilience, and regain a sense of hope and stability.

Protection is also mainstreamed across all of STSI’s programmes through strong safeguarding standards, conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approaches, and accessible feedback and complaint mechanisms. By working closely with community leaders, women and youth groups, local authorities, and humanitarian partners, STSI strengthens coordinated responses and promotes accountability and respect for human rights.

Ultimately, STSI’s protection programmes aim to reduce exposure to harm, improve access to safe and dignified services, and empower communities to protect themselves. Through these efforts, STSI contributes to safer environments where vulnerable individuals can live with greater security, dignity, and wellbeing.