The name
Every letter carries a commitment.
| Letter | Word | What it means for our work |
|---|---|---|
| Outreach | Support that reaches people where they are. | |
| Affirming Spaces | Care and support that respect identity, consent and agency. | |
| Inclusion | Assistance people can access safely and with dignity. | |
| Sustainability | Recovery pathways that extend beyond the immediate crisis. |
Our political philosophy
Community power. Bodily autonomy. Collective care.
OASIS is guided by a decolonial, intersectional feminist philosophy. We understand climate harm and mental distress through unequal relations of power, including patriarchy, colonial legacies, economic exclusion and the policing of bodies and identities.
| Our decolonial approach | Our feminist approach | |
|---|---|---|
| What we centre | Nigerian and African knowledge, lived experience and community authority. | Bodily autonomy, reproductive justice and non-coercive, person-centred care. |
| What we challenge | Colonial legacies, extractive relations and unequal global responsibility for climate harm. | Patriarchy, gendered violence, stigma and discrimination. |
| How it shapes our work | Communities shape priorities, budgets and evidence, and funding supports community-defined goals. We critically examine inherited practices and use sound clinical evidence. | Our inclusive African feminism addresses how gender, identity, disability, poverty and displacement interact to shape access to safety, resources and decision-making power. |
Together, these commitments advance community self-determination, bodily autonomy, collective care and accountability.
Àgbájọ ọwọ́ la fi ń sọ̀yà.
‘It is with joined hands that we beat our chests with pride.’
Strength and dignity are built collectively.
Principles in practice
How we hold ourselves to account
| Principle | Our commitment | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Community power | Affected communities hold governing roles and share authority over resource decisions. | Governance and budgets |
| Non-extractive practice | We obtain consent, pay people for their expertise and return findings to communities. We never require trauma stories or photographs. | Research, evidence and communications |
| Accountable care | We protect choice, dignity and confidentiality, and apply these standards to leaders, staff and funders alike. | Everyone connected to OASIS |
Intellectual grounding: the Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists, African Feminist Forum.
Igwe bụ ike.
‘The multitude is strength.’
Together, we are stronger than any crisis.
Safety. Dignity. Recovery.