When we give, we gain joy and hope — Deborah Davidson

As Nigeria celebrates International Women’s Day 2026, themed ‘Give to Gain’, an Abuja-based initiative is showing how simple acts of giving can change lives. In this interview with Daily Trust, founder of the Deborah Davidson Foundation, Deborah Davidson, says her goal is to give dignity to those who lack basic support.   The story of […]

As Nigeria celebrates International Women’s Day 2026, themed ‘Give to Gain’, an Abuja-based initiative is showing how simple acts of giving can change lives. In this interview with Daily Trust, founder of the Deborah Davidson Foundation, Deborah Davidson, says her goal is to give dignity to those who lack basic support.

 

The story of Deborah offers a quiet but powerful example of what that message means in real life. In Abuja and parts of Kogi State, Deborah has been reaching out to women through annual food distribution and, more recently, a menstrual health outreach for young girls.

Her motivation, she says, comes from her upbringing.

“I grew up in a home where I never lacked food,” she explained. “My parents made sure I had the basic necessities, especially as their only daughter. That made me aware of how much of a privilege consistent care and provision really is.”

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As she became more exposed to her community, she began to notice a sharp contrast. Many women struggled daily to feed their families. Some young girls could not afford basic sanitary products.

“Seeing that difference touched me deeply,” she said. “I wanted to be a source of help and dignity to women and girls who might not have anyone standing in that gap for them.”

That desire led her to focus on food distribution and menstrual support — two needs she describes as “basic but life-changing”.

“When a woman lacks food, everything becomes harder. When a girl cannot afford sanitary pads, it affects her health, her confidence, and sometimes even her education,” she said.

Although she distributes food to women yearly, she organised her first menstrual outreach to mark the fifth anniversary of the foundation. She wanted the celebration to go beyond speeches and become something practical.

“I didn’t want to just mark an anniversary. I wanted to create impact,” she said.

During the ‘Pad a Girl Child’ drive held in Abuja and Kogi State, she and her team spoke with young girls about menstrual hygiene, how to properly use sanitary products, maintain cleanliness, and dispose of materials safely. The session was interactive, and the girls asked questions openly.

What stood out most to her was learning that some girls still relied on pieces of cloth during their periods because they could not afford pads.

“It was shocking,” she said. “Some of them were aware of menstrual hygiene, but they simply didn’t have access to sanitary products. That shows why we must keep supporting and educating them.”

While awareness is improving, she believes there is still a long way to go.

When asked why basic needs like food and sanitary pads remain difficult for many women to access, she did not hesitate.

“The major reason is poverty,” she said. “Poverty is one of the greatest stealers of opportunities.”

According to her, poverty forces families to focus on survival. When food is scarce, items like sanitary pads are seen as optional, even though they are essential.

“Poverty doesn’t just take away money,” she added. “It steals comfort, dignity, time, and hope. That is why some basic needs are treated like luxuries.”

Despite the heavy realities she encounters, the responses from beneficiaries keep her encouraged.

“They were really excited,” she said, reflecting on both the food distribution and menstrual outreach. “The smiles, the prayers, and the appreciation meant everything to me.”

For her, those reactions are proof that giving makes a difference.

She explained that food support provides more than physical nourishment. It reduces stress.

“When a woman knows she has food to eat, she can think clearly,” she said. “She can show up better for her family. She is not constantly worried about the next meal.”

Menstrual health education, she added, also changes how girls see themselves.

“A lot of girls grow up feeling ashamed of their periods,” she said. “When they understand that it is normal and have access to proper sanitary items, their confidence improves.”

In her view, it is not simply about distributing items.

“It is about giving peace of mind,” she said. “It is about helping them live without unnecessary fear or shame.”

However, sustaining such initiatives has not been easy. Funding remains her biggest challenge.

“I have a clear vision for the foundation,” she said. “I know how much more we can do, but lack of funds limits how far we can go.”

Transportation, buying items in bulk, reaching more communities, and mobilising volunteers all require financial resources. Planning outreaches from scratch can also be stressful.

“Sometimes the passion is there and the people are willing, but the funds are not enough,” she admitted.

Still, she believes support should not rest only on government agencies or large organisations.

“I believe individuals have a responsibility too,” she said. “When people contribute, even in small ways, it adds up.”

She stressed that people within communities often understand needs better and can respond faster.

“Real impact happens when everyone plays their part,” she said. “Everyone has something to give.”

She says the work has also changed her personally.

“Before I started this journey, I thought giving meant having a lot,” Deborah said. “But I have learned that giving starts with compassion. Even when I don’t have much, I can still share something.”

She recalled moments when women held her hands after receiving food items and prayed for her.

“Those prayers stay with me,” she said quietly. “They remind me that kindness has power.”

Deborah added that seeing young girls smile during the menstrual outreach gave her new determination.

“One girl told me she was scared of her period because nobody explained it to her,” she said. “After our talk, she said she felt normal. That touched my heart.”

For Deborah, these moments are the real reward.

“I may not change the whole country,” she said. “But if one woman sleeps without hunger or one girl goes to school without shame, then the effort is worth it.”

She believes more Nigerians are ready to help if they understand the need.

“Sometimes people want to give, but they don’t know where to start,” she said. “Start small. Start with one person. That is how change begins.”

That belief keeps her from feeling discouraged, even when resources are limited.

“For the past six years, I have been able to reach people in four different locations,” she said. “Anywhere I find myself, I try to support someone, no matter how small what I have may be.”

Looking ahead, she plans to expand the work of the foundation. She hopes to increase food drives and make the ‘Pad a Girl Child’ outreach an annual programme.

“The vision is to reach more communities across Nigeria,” she said.

She called on individuals and organisations to partner with the foundation by volunteering, sponsoring programmes, donating food items or sanitary products, or collaborating on community projects.

As Nigeria prepares to mark the International Women’s Day 2026, her story reflects the deeper meaning of the theme ‘Give to Gain’. When food is shared, women gain strength, when sanitary products are provided, girls gain dignity, when individuals step in to help, communities gain hope.

In Nigeria, Deborah’s work reflects a wider crisis. Experts estimate that over 37 million Nigerian women and girls cannot afford menstrual products, while about 44 per cent struggle with period poverty.

Many girls miss school every month because they cannot afford sanitary pads, which now cost as much as N2,000 per pack in some areas. As a result, some resort to unsafe materials like rags or tissue paper.

For her, giving has never been about recognition.

“When we give, we gain joy and purpose,” she said. “We gain the knowledge that someone’s life is better because we care.”

In a time of economic strain and social challenges, her message is simple: meaningful change does not always begin with large budgets or national programmes. Sometimes, it starts with one person deciding that someone else’s basic need matters.

And from that small act of giving, something much bigger is gained.