Globally, 1 in 9 children have experienced sexual violence past year (WHO).  But in Kenya and Zambia, the rates are even higher due to a lack of knowledge about body autonomy, a persistent culture of victim-blaming, and cultural taboo silencing sexual abuse. Ageist, and sexist cultural practices, myths, and beliefs continue to perpetuate violence against children. Experiencing child sexual abuse can result in traumatic health consequences for millions of children in Kenya and Zambia. This is a devastating reality, but there is hope. Freely in Hope provides educ ..read more

Maryanne was raised by her grandparents for most of her life because her mother was not present. Despite these challenges, Maryanne and her siblings were able to overcome their circumstances and build a life for themselves. Maryanne’s life took a difficult turn when she was raped by her pastor. This experience left her feeling ashamed and blamed herself for what happened.  However, Maryanne was eventually able to find the courage to report her abuser and seek justice. After 12 years of fighting in court, Maryanne was finally able to get justice with the help of our partners, Internat ..read more

Freely in Hope equips communities to prevent child sexual abuse Globally, 1 in 2 children have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year (WHO). This is a devastating reality, but there is hope. Freely in Hope is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to ending child sexual abuse. We work in Kenya, Zambia, and the US to provide education, leadership development, and community trainings that prevent sexual abuse and care for survivors. When you donate to Freely in Hope, you are helping us equip communities to prevent child sexual abuse.&nbs ..read more

The holidays are a beautiful time of connection with friends and family near and far. For some, this season makes us feel loved by trusted family members that surround us with safety, empathy, and protection. For others, it invokes anxiety, depression, and fear due to family members who cause abuse, harm, or toxicity. Regardless of the family situations that we come from, we can make empowered decisions to protect our children during this holiday season. Here are 3 ways to keep your kids safe during this holiday season:  1. teach body boundaries It is important to not only specify bo ..read more

Parenting young ones in such peculiar times can feel like a never ending roller coaster ride. As a caregiver, you juggle so many responsibilities in order to secure a future for your child. Dealing with so many tasks and concerns poses the risk of missing signs that could identify whether your child has experienced sexual abuse. Keeping children safe can be challenging because perpetrators are often in positions of trust.  Perpetrators who engage in grooming often take steps to hide their actions, which presents a need for a vigilance and intentionality in assessing the safety of our c ..read more

I was young, innocent, and intelligent, but I lived in a crooked community. I witnessed theft and its consequences as my community gathered to subject the thief to “justice”. They have shown this same unity in beating a woman caught with another woman’s husband. The torture, name-calling, and violence left me reeling. My mother took the time to tell me about the ways of life and the importance of education. She placed tools in our hands so that we could escape poverty and pursue our education. She taught me Christian values and also spoke about the dress code. Mother showed us what to wear ..read more

As parents and caregivers, we are not in complete control over what happens to our children, but it is our responsibility to protect our children by deciding which adults have access to them. Healthy relational boundaries are a necessary factor in preventing child sexual abuse. These boundaries determine and gauge the health of all relationships. The key to establishing relational boundaries with your child is to find consistency and balance. If your boundaries are extremely rigid, you will hinder your child’s ability to build trust and receive healthy affection. If your child is closed off ..read more

This resource is for parents and caregivers of children who have experienced sexual abuse. If you are not sure whether your child has experienced sexual abuse, click here for helpful ways to approach the subject with your child. Many parents and caregivers are unaware of both the immediate and lifelong damage that a violated child will suffer, but this ignorance has cost us the future of our children. To stop this cycle, we must remedy ignorance with intentional conversations. By learning how to best care for your child and growing a strong support network, you will be able to move towards ..read more

The Trauma-Informed Parenting Guide provides the basics of trauma-informed care to empower parents and caregivers to have age-appropriate conversations with their children around sexuality, sexual abuse, and trauma healing. When you donate, we’ll send you a free download of the full guide along with accompanying videos.  donate today Below is an excerpt from our Trauma-Informed Parenting guide filled with practices, techniques, exercises, and tips specifically for parents of survivors of sexual violence.  1. understanding body autonomy Body autonomy means that children ha ..read more

Mental health awareness is not only about mental illness but mental wellness as well.  When it comes to children, you as the parent are the first level of support and that sometimes can feel like a daunting task. Beginning to care for your child’s mental health begins with knowing your child and what their “normal” looks like. Use that as a basis to understand and appreciate their uniqueness. 1. Model healthy mental habits Teaching your child how to care for their mental health starts with you doing the same. “Self-care before child care” is a powerful mantra for adults looking to s ..read more