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Partnering with Together Women Rise to Expand Survivor-Led Child Protection in Kenya
We are proud to announce a new partnership between Freely in Hope and Together Women Rise, a global community of women and allies advancing gender equality worldwide in the Global South.
Through this partnership, Together Women Rise is investing $50,000 over two years to support the expansion of Pendo’s Power, Freely in Hope’s trauma-informed, play-based program designed to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in under-resourced communities.
This funding marks a significant milestone in our journey to create safer schools and stronger protection systems for children, led by those who understand the realities of violence most deeply: survivors themselves.
How Maryanne’s Story Became Her Strength
The weight of my community’s silence was heavy. Growing up, I didn’t just witness violence; I lived in its shadow, watching as systems and customs quietly expected women to remain small, silenced, and in servitude. I saw women I admired trapped in cycles of abuse, their dignity chipped away until their dreams seemed impossible.
When Believing in Others Becomes Your Purpose
The weight of my community’s silence was heavy. Growing up, I didn’t just witness violence; I lived in its shadow, watching as systems and customs quietly expected women to remain small, silenced, and in servitude. I saw women I admired trapped in cycles of abuse, their dignity chipped away until their dreams seemed impossible.
Why Survivor Leadership Doesn’t Just Help—It Expands Hope
The weight of my community’s silence was heavy. Growing up, I didn’t just witness violence; I lived in its shadow, watching as systems and customs quietly expected women to remain small, silenced, and in servitude. I saw women I admired trapped in cycles of abuse, their dignity chipped away until their dreams seemed impossible.
Lydia’s Journey with Freely in Hope
The weight of my community’s silence was heavy. Growing up, I didn’t just witness violence; I lived in its shadow, watching as systems and customs quietly expected women to remain small, silenced, and in servitude. I saw women I admired trapped in cycles of abuse, their dignity chipped away until their dreams seemed impossible.
How our story began
Fifteen years ago, I made a career shift that completely changed me. Having worked with numerous nonprofits in Kenya and Zambia as a filmmaker, I was going in and out of homes, in and out of villages, and in and out of communities, listening to heart wrenching stories from survivors of sexual violence.
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE—not just a buzzword
Sexual violence doesn’t just leave physical scars, it can have a deep and lasting impact on a survivor’s mental health. Without understanding the devastating effects of trauma, we may unintentionally cause more harm.
United for Justice: Protesting Child Sexual Violence in Zambia
In 2023, we directly impacted over 6,000 people with programs and resources that empower survivors and end sexual violence worldwide! But we didn’t start here…
How Education Helps Break the Cycle of Sexual Abuse
More than 370 million girls and women alive today – or 1 in 8 – experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18.