NEWS & Blog

At Freely in Hope, creating safe spaces for children is at the heart of our mission to prevent sexual abuse and foster safety for communities. In Kenya and Zambia, we recently launched groundbreaking Child Protection Programs equipping faith leaders with the tools and resources to protect children from harm and foster environments where they can thrive.

Elizabeth, a high school student, and Freely in Hope Scholar grew up in Lusaka, Zambia, in a family of four. At nine years old, Elizabeth faced sexual violence at the hands of her step father.

A few weeks ago, we hosted Reflecting Light: Freely in Hope’s 14th Anniversary Gala that brought together supporters, advocates, and changemakers to highlight the vital work of Freely in Hope.

As an aspiring teacher, I feel equipped with knowledge of how I can help my students who have experienced trauma.

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…

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—14 years ago, we began by listening to the dreams of one survivor in Kenya and one survivor in Zambia.

My ultimate dream is to open a safe home for girls who have been rescued from prostitution, are at risk of being sexually abused, and have no one to fight for them. This home will be filled with hope, faith, and love for dreams to be restored so that they are able to go to school, just as I have.

Serving as Freely in Hope’s Program & Partnerships Director, Lydia coordinates, designs, and implements programs that exemplify best practices on ending the cycle of sexual violence. Lydia is also on the Brave Movement Global Survivor Council.

Every year, Freely In Hope hosts a four-day retreat for the scholars in Kenya and Zambia. Get a sneak peek into what we learned with each other!