Our Mission & Values
VULPRF was founded in 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria, with a mission to stop violence among youth and promote peace in its entirety. Since then, we have grown to 20 staff and 30 volunteers, working with communities across Nigeria. In 2025, we were granted UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status. Learn more about our history.
Our Strategic Approach
VULPRF applies a community-centered approach to achieve our vision of a peaceful society where every person’s rights are protected. We call it “Engage. Empower. Sustain.”:
- Engage: We work directly with communities to understand their needs, identify the root causes of violence and vulnerability, and build trust. Our team engages with youth, women, persons with disabilities, and local leaders to ensure our programs are responsive and inclusive.
- Empower: We equip individuals and communities with the knowledge, skills, and resources to protect their rights and resolve conflicts peacefully. Through workshops, training, education programs, and advocacy, we help people become agents of change in their own communities.
- Sustain: We build lasting partnerships with government agencies, civil society organizations, and international networks to ensure our impact endures. Our UN ECOSOC consultative status enables us to advocate at the highest levels and connect local action with global frameworks like the Development Goals.
Our History
VULPRF was founded by a group of peace advocates in 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria. Over time, VULPRF evolved into a global organization focused on turning research into results. The organization now boasts 20 staff and 30 volunteers across Nigeria. Learn more about our history of results since 2017.
Our Advantage
VULPRF brings deep community roots, strong partnerships, and a proven commitment to protecting vulnerable persons. Our team includes experienced advocates, social workers, educators, and volunteers who understand the challenges facing Nigerian communities. Our commitment to locally led action helps cultivate change that is not only beneficial, but lasting.
Our unique approach is built on:
- Community-based programs: We design and deliver programs that respond directly to the needs identified by the communities we serve. From youth peace workshops to women’s empowerment training, our programs are grounded in local realities and cultural understanding.
- Advocacy and policy engagement: We engage with government agencies, traditional leaders, and policymakers to advance laws and policies that protect the rights of vulnerable persons. Our ECOSOC status gives us a platform to contribute to global human rights and development discourse.
- Education and capacity building: We believe knowledge is power. We provide training, educational materials, and skills development programs that equip individuals to protect their rights, resolve conflicts peacefully, and improve their livelihoods.
- Strong partnerships: We are proud members of the Nigeria Network of NGOs and partner with organizations including the African Centre for Human Advancement, YINAGUE, and Dorben Polytechnic. These partnerships amplify our reach and impact.
- Volunteer engagement: With 30 dedicated volunteers alongside our 20 staff, VULPRF harnesses the passion and energy of citizens who want to make a difference in their communities.
We measure success by the lives we touch — conflicts resolved, rights protected, skills acquired, and policies changed. Our work aligns with the UN Development Goals, including gender equality, reduced inequalities, peace and justice, and quality education.
A Commitment to Diversity
VULPRF is committed to inclusivity and non-discrimination in all our programs and operations. We serve vulnerable persons regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, or social status. Our team and volunteers reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, and we strive to create an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We recognize that the rights of vulnerable persons are universal, and that inclusive approaches produce stronger, more sustainable peace.
Every person deserves to live free from violence and discrimination. We invite you to join us in building a more peaceful and just society by supporting our work, volunteering, or making a donation.
