Historical Background

Women’s Network Safe Space Ministry (WNSSM) was established in 2016 because of the experience of the President of the Ministry. She was one of those that fled (Islamic Insurgency) Boko Haram in October 2014 while she was working as Deputy Director of Theological Education by Extension (EYN TEE College) in Mubi. She spent several days in Cameroon with other refugees before getting a way to return to Nigeria. She went to Jos with her family as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staying in rented place. She observed that there were many women and children displaced without shelter, food and clothing. This has touched her heart to think of what to do in order to help especially women and children that are vulnerable. After working with TEE College, she was transferred to EYN-Church of the Brethren Headquarters at Kwarhi, suburb of Mubi to serve as Deputy Director of Women Ministry. Working with women and children for several years where they shared their experiences, fears and plight has instilled in her concern for the vulnerable. This led her to do PhD in Gender Based Violence as the IDPs were more and more affected by being abused at different levels.

WNSSM was officially organized in 2018 by supporting the abused women and children most especially survivors of Gender Based Violence in the North-east Nigeria. While supporting the vulnerable women and children, there is concern of where to shelter them temporary by giving them safe space as immediate safety, trauma healing and counseling, training them for self- reliance and empowering them with skills required. As well as empowering them educationally by enrolling some of this women into literacy class, educating them on personal hygiene and supporting the girls and orphans to go back to school.  

An individual cannot do this without support from other individuals, churches, NGOs etc. This is a great task that needs to be achieved by returning dignity to the abused women, girls and children.