The Safe House Project, implemented by the Women’s Association of Tigrai (WAT) with the support of UNFPA, stands as a pillar of protection, healing, and empowerment for women affected by gender-based violence across Tigray. Through its three Safe House centers in Mekelle, Adigrat, and Maichew, WAT provides comprehensive services that restore dignity, rebuild confidence, and support sustainable reintegration into society.
The Adigrat Safe House Center is located within a green and peaceful campus, carefully designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for survivors. The center operates day and night, with dedicated staff working tirelessly to ensure that every woman receives continuous care, protection, and compassion. Within this calm setting, survivors begin a journey of recovery and renewal.
Healing at the Adigrat center follows a holistic approach. Survivors receive psychosocial support, counseling, motivation sessions, and personal development services that promote psychological healing, emotional stability, and positive mindset transformation. These interventions help women rebuild their sense of self-worth, resilience, and hope for the future.
In addition to psychosocial care, the Safe House places strong emphasis on skills development and economic empowerment. Survivors are trained in various income-generating skills, including candle making, hairdressing, dress making, production of traditional handicrafts, soap making, and other practical skills. These opportunities enable women to acquire marketable skills that support independence and long-term livelihoods.
Following recovery and skills training, survivors are supported through a safe, dignified, and well-coordinated reintegration process into their communities. The transformation witnessed at the Adigrat Safe House reflects WAT’s commitment to ensuring that survivors move forward not only healed, but empowered and equipped to lead productive lives.
While the impact of the Tigray conflict continues to leave deep social and psychological scars, the Safe House Project remains a beacon of hope. It demonstrates that, with care, commitment, and partnership, healing is possible and lives can be rebuilt. Through this work, WAT continues to stand with women—supporting their journey from crisis to recovery, from vulnerability to strength.