Coady graduate and Katherine Fleming International Development award recipient Kate Ibeanusi (Diploma in Development Leadership 2014) writes about her efforts to bring about positive social change in Nigeria through Sheerah Verenda Full Life Initiative (formerly Initiative for Sustaining Family Unity) a social impact organization committed to advancing human dignity, wellbeing, justice, and opportunity for individuals, families, and communities.
By Kate Ibeanusi
Following a period of strategic reflection and organisational renewal, we have re-established our work under a new identity: Sheerah Verenda Full Life Initiative (SVLI), a Nigerian social impact organisation committed to strengthening individuals, families, and communities through integrated programmes in gender equality and protection, mental health and psychosocial support, education and youth development, migration and reintegration, economic empowerment, technology, and storytelling.
Group Photo with some of the ladies in Tanzania during ENGAGE
Facilitating one of our Flagship trainings
Coady graduates from West Africa at ENGAGE
The transition has been far more than a change of name. It has been an opportunity to reimagine how we accompany individuals and communities through life’s transitions while creating pathways for dignity, participation, wellbeing, and opportunity. Our vision is a world where individuals, families, and communities thrive with dignity, wellness, and purpose, and we believe sustainable development happens when people are equipped not only with opportunities but also with the confidence, supportive relationships, and resilience they need to flourish.
Our vision is a world where individuals, families, and communities thrive with dignity, wellness, and purpose.
One of our newest signature initiatives is Unsilenced Voices That Matter | Sheerah Verenda, a storytelling and social impact podcast that brings real stories, lived experiences, and powerful conversations to the forefront. Through honest dialogue, the podcast explores identity, transitions, healing, and purpose while shining a light on individuals, communities, and everyday heroes working to build a more compassionate world. More than a podcast, it is a movement for expression, healing, learning, and social change.
The values and approaches I gained through my time at Coady – and reinforced during the recent ENGAGE! convening in Tanzania – continue to shape how we design community-centred programmes, foster active citizenship, and build partnerships rooted in participation and local leadership. Coady’s emphasis on people-centred development remains deeply embedded in how we approach our work.
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