ProjectASHA is a non-political and non- governmental organization (NGO) registered in Nigeria as Vweta Chadwick ASHA Empowerment Foundation with CAC Certificate of Incorporation No: 8001936. We have been operating since 2014 as a support group creating strategies and the enabling conditions for the empowerment and capacity development of vulnerable girls, women, and people with disability (PWD) from under-served communities to be productive members of our society. We work nationwide across all geo-political zones in Nigeria.
ASHA is a girl's name of Swahili, Hindi, and Sanskrit origin, meaning "hope and life". Hence our motto is “Inspiring Hope & Transforming Lives.” Vweta said: If what you do inspires hope in others and transform their lives for the better, then you are ASHA (life and hope) to those you affect. Hence the hashtag #IAMASHA. Through her work, Vweta received numerous global awards. A brief biography of Vweta Chadwick was published on TIME.COM in 2017.
Mission
Our mission is to continue to empower girls, women, and people with disability (PWD) from disadvantaged background & underserved communities so that they can achieve their best in life. Our areas of focus are Digital Literacy & Inclusion; Health; Education & Empowerment; Advocacy/ Equality; Coaching, Mentoring and Entrepreneurship; and Start-up Loans and Grants for SMEs owned by Women, Girls and People with Disabilities (PWD).
Our main objectives are to:
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Promote the Rights of Girls, Women and Persons with Disability to Health, Digital Literacy, Leadership, and Inclusion.
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Promote and Engage in Advocacy for Education and Empowerment (both Economic & Social) for Girls, Women and People with Disabilities (PWD) through Skills Acquisition and by Driving, Shaping, and Supporting Government Policy Development in areas pertinent to our work.
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Promote Digital Inclusion and Literacy by Bridging the Gender Digital Literacy Gap by providing Access to Female Digital ICT Inclusion/Literacy Hubs, and Promoting Skills Acquisition for Economic Independence for Girls, Women and People with Disabilities.
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Advocate for Gender Equality and Equity by Promoting and Amplifying the Voice of many
voiceless and Invisible Women, Girls, and Disabled People through Poetry, Art, and Dance (PAD). -
Advocate for Improved Access for Persons with Disability, Girls and Women to Quality Healthcare, and for Improved Maternal Healthcare access for Safe Deliveries of Babies.
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Promote Public Health Education/Awareness Campaigns related to our Work in Schools, Communities, and within Organisations.
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Other areas of work: We also work with victims of people trafficking to resettle and tak control of their lives and become financially independent.
Objectives
Since 2020 and onwards ProjectASHA has focused on five main activities:
1. Vweta Chadwick Poetry Prize Contest for girls (Senior & Junior
categories). This is an Annual National Competition with cash award and
other incentives.
2. Empowering Women of the Future (EWOF) Initiative, through
a. Project RedDot to combat period poverty.
b. Vweta Chadwick Sheroes ICT Hub for Women, and Girls to combat digital gender nequality.
c. Development of Health Apps for Girls and Women’s for easy access to accurate and reliable medical and wellbeing support and advice.
d. Ijoya Rumble Dance Competition (online and in person) in collaboration with Real Made in Africa targeting unemployed talented youth from under-served communities in Nigeria to foster youth Digital Inclusion, and Economic Development and Empowerment.
e. Coaching, Mentoring and Entrepreneurship; and\ providing Start-up Loans and Grants for SMEs owned by Women, Girls and People with Disabilities (PWD).
3. Policy Development targeting disability rights, domestic violence, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, child abuse, child pornography, paedophilia, sex register for sex offenders, violence against girls and women, human trafficking, modern day slavery, rape, etc. Our target sectors include Women Affairs, Youth, Sport & Culture, Health, Education, Policing, State and National Legislative arms of government, Universities, Mass Media and Mass Communication, Social Media, NAPTIP, Economic Development, and Advocacy.
4. ProjectASHA Community Breakfast. This is a quarterly event to promote importance of Child Nutrition. Subject to sponsorship, we would like to increase the frequency to monthly.
5. Virtual Pitch Contest for Girls. This is an Annual National Competition with a focus on providing girls with learning opportunities in science and technology, with cash award and other incentives.
Project ASHA also benefits from the membership and support of patrons and matrons of all walks of life, all of whom share a passion for empowerment and development issues for all citizens of the world.