About KIND
Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) is a non-governmental organization founded by Hafsat Abiola-Costello in 1997. KIND was launched in the USA, in January 1998, where it joined other organizations in the Nigerian pro-democracy movement to end military rule in Nigeria. Following the end of military rule in May 1999, the organization was launched in Nigeria.
Our mission is to empower democracy and development in Africa by strengthening organizations and creating initiatives dedicated to the advancement of women. Its vision is an Africa where women are full participants in the continent’s social, economic and political development.
KIND’S Work
In the last twelve years, KIND has carried out many different activities under its three areas of intervention. The areas of intervention are grouped into leadership development; Creating Opportunities; and Working Collaboratively with other organizations, agencies and individuals.
- Leadership Development
Kudra & Junior Kudra Leadership Programmes are the major avenues through which KIND equips women and girls with information, tools and skills they need to participate as service leaders at all levels in society. Kudra is offered to young women in Universities while Junior Kudra is offered to adolescent girls in secondary schools.
KIND offers Kudra to young women in University of Lagos; Lagos State Polytechnic; Redeemer’s University, Ogun State; Cross River State University of Technology; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State; University of Jos, Plateau State; and University of Maiduguri, Borno State. Junior Kudra is currently offered to students in Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School, Lanre Awolokun Senior High and Gbagada Senior Grammar and Angus Memorial High School, all in Lagos State.
Past and current donors for the Kudra & Junior Kudra programmes include DFID (V4C) CORDAID; EU Delegation in Nigeria; EMpower; Global Fund for Children (GFC); and Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) ; Japanese Embassy in Nigeria; UN Women ;World Bank; OSIWA
- Creating Opportunities
Bridge is the major avenue through which KIND provides opportunities for its beneficiaries. As the name suggests, the programme provides a bridge for Kudra and Junior Kudra alumni to enter and strive for leadership positions in public spaces by cultivating opportunities like mentoring, internships, providing micro-credit, additional training and platforms for young women and girls to influence government on public policy matters. Through Bridge, KIND has provided internship spaces for 4 young women in 2009; 10 in 2010 and 15 in 2011; provided micro-credits to three young women, to enable them expand and improve their businesses; provided 38 adolescent girls with video capturing & editing; and photo editing skills from 2009 till date; and provided opportunities for 20 young women to act as mentors to 20 adolescent girls.
Past and present donors for Bridge include EMpower and Global Fund for Children (GFC)
- Collaborative Efforts
Interlink is the major avenue through which KIND works with other organizations and individuals with similar vision. The program promotes joint action between international and local organizations on projects aimed at fostering a public environment that enables women’s public participation. The program uses cultural expressions and other means to cause a shift in attitudes and practices that work against women’s participation in society. In the last three years, KIND’s main activities under Interlink are:
30 by 15 (formerly 30 by 11) Campaign to secure favourable rules for women’s political participation. Through the campaign, KIND conducted capacity training for 90 established female politicians and 90 aspiring women politicians in Lagos, Cross River and Borno States.
Make Women Safe Campaign to promote women’s safety in society by creating awareness about violence against women and lobbying for legislation and regulations to criminalize it in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial centre and second largest state. Through this campaign, KIND worked with four other organizations to stage V Monologues: The Nigerian Story in 2008; staged V Monologues in 2009; and worked with Jason Vision to stage V Monologues vs. Tarzan Monologues in 2010.
Past and current donors for Interlink programmes include UN Women; CORDAID; Lagos State Government; Fetzer; MacArthur Foundation and Omidiyar Network
Contact Details
Address
42/46, Moshood Abiola Crescent,
Off Toyin Street,
Ikeja, Lagos,
Nigeria.
Email Address: kindnigeria@yahoo.com,
INSTAGRAM: @Kindnigeria
TWITTER: @kind_nigeria
FACEBOOK fan page: @Kind Nigeria
Telephone: 07012225175, 08056974793, 08033652200.
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