Freely in Hope

350 caregivers. One powerful conversation.

We recently had the privilege of conducting a caregiver training at Unity Primary School – and it was one of those moments that remind you how important community engagement truly is.

The senior leadership, who have already completed our child protection training and are passionate advocates for child safety, took the lead as Trainers of Trainers during the session.

They guided 350 caregivers through honest and necessary conversations about sexual violence, consent, different forms of abuse, and the people children are most vulnerable to. Most importantly, they reminded every caregiver in that room of the powerful role they play in protecting their children.

It was brief. But it was necessary. And it was just the beginning; we are looking forward to more TOT sessions in the coming weeks!

We are grateful to Unity Primary School for their partnership and their unwavering commitment to child safety.

This is one of those days that remind you why this work matters.

We gathered with our Malkia women for a skills session, and this one was extra special. Because the facilitators were 3 Malkia alumni.

Martha Ogechi (Cohort 1) led the soap-making session. Juliet Wanjiru (Cohort 3) and Christine Wanjiku (Cohort 1) taught the women how to make yoghurt and Jik. These women came back not because they had to, but because they wanted to pour into the next generation. That is survivor leadership at its most beautiful.

The room was full of laughter, curiosity, and joy as the women learned together. And they weren't just learning for fun; they were gaining real, practical skills they can use to earn and support themselves and their families.

By the end of the day, every woman went home with the soap, Jik, and yoghurt she had made with her own hands. They also received clothes, shoes, textbooks for their children, and food support.

One of the women said it best. “I always look forward to these sessions because of the love I feel and the chance to learn something new each time.”
That love is real. And it shows.

Some conversations are hard. But they are necessary.

We gathered with our Malkia women for a session on drugs and alcohol, and what unfolded was one of the most honest, courageous conversations we've had together.

The session opened up a real discussion about how substance use affects our health, our relationships, our families, our thinking, and our overall well-being. And we didn't shy away from the truth. Many times, people turn to substances simply to cope with pain and difficult experiences. That's not a weakness. That's being human.

So together, we explored healthier ways to carry that pain, including peer support, therapy, music, prayer, and meditation. Tools that heal rather than hide. And because we believe in nourishing the whole person, we closed the session by sharing a food basket with each woman.

These women show up every time. With honesty. With courage. With open hearts.
We don't take that lightly.

We are thrilled to officially announce the date of our 15th Anniversary Gala—and share why this gathering will truly be a historic night in Freely in Hope’s history.

Save the Date: Freely in Hope’s 15th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Dogpatch Studios, San Francisco

While this Gala celebrates 15 years of survivor-led healing, it also marks the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. After a transformative journey of building this movement in collaboration with survivors in Kenya and Zambia, Nikole Lim, our founder, will be stepping out of her role as International Director and passing the baton to our incoming leader (soon to be revealed)! October 24th will be a sacred pause to look back at what we’ve built together, honor our collective history, and officially introduce and welcome Freely in Hope’s next Executive Director.

Join us by registering at freelyinhope.org/gala
Seating is limited!

Thank you for walking alongside Freely in Hope for the last 15 years, and for your unwavering belief in this unique survivor-led movement.