Support circles
Small groups of 8 to 10 women meet with a counsellor, in person and online.
You're not starting over. You're starting fresh.
Divorce can turn your world upside down. We're a community of women, lawyers, counsellors and mentors who help you find your footing, from your very first question to the life you build next.
Always free
Confidential
No judgement
From our bookshop
After Us
Finding Yourself After the Man Who Broke the Marriage
Eighteen short, honest chapters for the woman who is angry enough to throw something and tired enough not to bother. Each one ends with something small to do tonight, questions to sit with, and words for when it hits again.
Wherever you are, there's a next step
Divorce doesn't happen in a day. We meet you at the stage you're in right now.
1
Just separated
Everything feels urgent. Get calm, practical answers about your rights, your home and your children, and a plan for the next few weeks.
Start here2
Going through it
Paperwork, hearings, negotiation. Understand each step of the process and prepare with a volunteer lawyer in your corner.
Get prepared3
Rebuilding
A brand new chapter. Grow your income and confidence, and find friends who are rebuilding too.
Plan what's nextSupport for every part of your life
Divorce touches your money, your home, your children and your heart. Our six programs are designed to work together, so you can lean on as many as you need.
How getting support works
No forms to fill in for weeks, no waiting lists to join. Just a friendly conversation and a plan made around you.
Reach out
Request a call, send a WhatsApp message, or walk into a clinic. Use a nickname if you like.
Have a chat
A trained intake volunteer listens, answers first questions and asks what matters most to you.
Get your plan
Together you choose the programs that fit, whether that's one clinic visit or several months of support.
Keep going
Your contact checks in regularly. When you're ready, you can become a mentor for someone else.
Women who found their way
From Lagos to Nairobi to London, women came to us unsure of the next step. Here's what changed.
Our promise to you
We listen first
You won't be rushed or told what you should have done. Your story leads.
Your privacy is protected
We never contact anyone on your behalf without your permission.
It costs you nothing
Every program is free, funded by donors, partners and our bookshop.
You're never alone
Circles, mentors and a whole community walk this road with you.
Not sure where to begin?
Answer three quick questions and we'll suggest the support that fits you. It takes about a minute, and no sign-up is needed.
Questions women often ask
About us
A soft place to land and a strong place to grow
The Divorced Women Initiative exists so that no woman has to face divorce without information, support or friendship.
Why we started
Too many women leave a marriage without knowing their rights, without savings in their own name, and carrying the weight of what others will say. Many are told to stay quiet and endure.
We believe divorce can be the beginning of a life a woman chooses for herself. Our work is to make that beginning safer, clearer and far less lonely, with practical help and people who stay beside her for as long as she needs.
Today we bring together volunteer lawyers, counsellors, financial coaches and women who have rebuilt their own lives, all working toward the same thing: helping you find your way.
Our mission
To walk beside women through every stage of divorce with free legal, financial, emotional and practical support, so they can rebuild with confidence.
Our vision
A world where every woman leaving a marriage is met with understanding instead of judgement, and has everything she needs to thrive.
The people behind the petals
Our work is powered by women and allies who give their time and skills. Many of them once sat where you're sitting now.
Volunteer lawyers
Run weekly clinics and help women understand every document and deadline.
Counsellors
Lead our support circles and offer one-to-one sessions when things feel heavy.
Money coaches
Help women budget, save, open accounts and grow an income of their own.
Mentors
Women who've rebuilt after divorce, paired with someone just starting out.
What guides us
No judgement
Every woman's story is her own. We never ask you to justify your decision, only how we can help.
Confidential by default
What you share stays with us, always.
Practical first
Feelings matter, and so do rent, school fees and court dates. We help with both.
Women helping women
Many of our volunteers give back the support they wish they'd had.
The story of our emblem
A woman rising with her arms open, held up by two petals. The petals are the support around her: legal, financial, emotional and community.
The rising is all hers. We're simply here to help it happen.
Programs
Programs built around real life after divorce
Every program is free. Join one or several, and choose online, in person or one-to-one support.
Gatherings and workshops
Alongside our programs, we host regular gatherings where you can learn, ask questions and meet other women. Ask us for upcoming dates near you.
Know your rights evening
A volunteer lawyer explains a topic, such as custody or property, then answers your questions.
Money morning
A friendly workshop on budgeting, saving and planning your first year of financial independence.
New chapter retreat
A day of rest, reflection and goal-setting for women who are rebuilding.
What to expect at your first visit
Feeling nervous is completely normal. Here's exactly what happens when you reach out.
- A warm welcome from a trained volunteer, with no paperwork needed to start.
- A private conversation about what's happening and what you need most.
- Clear answers to your most urgent questions, or a booking with someone who can answer them.
- A simple plan you agree on together, with one named contact person.
- A follow-up within one week, by whichever method feels safe for you.
Find your path
Let's find your next step together
Three quick questions. No sign-up, and your answers never leave your browser.
Bookshop
Books to keep you company on the way
Honest, practical reads written for women navigating divorce. Every purchase helps keep our programs free.
Featured book
After Us
Finding Yourself After the Man Who Broke the Marriage
This is not a book about becoming grateful that your marriage ended. It's for the woman who did everything a good wife was supposed to do and discovered that goodness cannot make another adult honest. It walks with you through the first raw days, the opinions of everyone around you, money, children, your body, your anger, and eventually a love that feels different.
All books
Secure checkout on Selar
Our books are sold through Selar. Pay by card, bank transfer or USSD, and get instant access to digital editions.
Every book gives back
Proceeds from the bookshop help fund our free legal clinics, circles and coaching.
Ordering for a group?
Churches, mosques, NGOs and book clubs can request bulk copies. Get in touch
Resources
Clear answers for the questions keeping you up at night
Plain-language guides from our volunteer lawyers, counsellors and coaches. Laws differ by country and situation, so treat these as a starting point and book a clinic for advice on your own case.
Words you might hear
Divorce comes with its own language. Here's what some common terms mean.
Frequently asked questions
Get involved
Help another woman find her way
Give money, time or skills. Every kind of support keeps our programs free for the women who need them.
Make a donation
Choose an amount to see what it makes possible.
Thank you for your generosity
Online giving is being set up. Please contact us and our team will help you complete your gift.
Volunteer with us
Volunteer lawyer
Lead a clinic once a month or take on a pro bono case.
Mentor
Rebuilt after divorce? Guide one woman for six months.
Skills partner
Teach a workshop in finance, business, tech or wellbeing.
You're signed up
Thank you! Our volunteer coordinator will email you within a week about next steps.
Partner with us
Companies, law firms, faith communities and NGOs can sponsor a clinic, offer jobs to women in our money program, or host a gathering.
Start a conversationSpread the word
Share our page, gift one of our books, or tell a friend who might need us. Sometimes that one message changes everything.
Contact
Talk to someone who understands
Request a free, confidential call. Share only what you're comfortable with, and choose how and when we reach you.
Request received
In an emergency
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 112.
Office hours
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Messages sent outside these hours are answered the next working day.
Find us online
Message us on any of our channels.
Your privacy
We only use your details to contact you about support, and never share them with anyone.