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Announcing Survivor Leadership Fund grantees

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January 25, 2022

The Freedom Fund is proud to announce our first round of grants to survivor-led organisations under our new Survivor Leadership Fund as part of our commitment to supporting survivor leadership in the effort to end modern slavery.

Seven local, survivor-led organisations  from Kenya and Uganda have been selected to receive unrestricted grants towards their important and inspiring work in the fight against modern slavery. These organisations were selected from over 150 applicants through an open and intentionally light-touch application and selection process. Each organisation will receive US$15,000 to use however they think best to build their capacity and conduct their work.

Each of the selected organisations have survivors among their staff and leadership. All are doing important work to end exploitation in their communities, including forced marriage and human trafficking, and support the sustained recovery of survivors.

“These unrestricted grants are one step towards shifting the power back to those most affected and ensuring that funding can reach the powerful work of survivor-led organisations,” says Amy Rahe, Managing Director for North America. “We are therefore excited to support these organisations to continue their inspiring and impactful work.”

Azadi Kenya
Provides long-term support for survivors through a resource centre helping survivors build skills and pursue interests of their choosing.

Foundation for Integrated Rural Development
Focuses on economic empowerment, microbusiness loans, financial literacy training for rural communities and survivors of child marriage.

Polycom Development Project
Facilitates various programs supporting survivors and women and girls with a focus on reproductive health, community engagement, and by supporting mental and emotional health through the Talking Boxes project.

Set Free to Thrive
Focuses on human trafficking prevention by raising awareness in schools, grassroots workshops targeting members of the public, and assessment and rapid response for recent survivors.

Sisari Women Initiative Group
Supports survivors of forced marriage by providing shelter, food, and clothing as well as paying tuition fees and various education costs to return girls to school.

Tunaweza Empowerment Organisation
Advocates for ending child violence and trafficking and provides safe havens, psychosocial support, and mentorship programs for survivors of human trafficking, female genital mutilation, forced labour, and child marriage.

Women Promotion Centre
Provides integrated support for survivors that include economic empowerment through dressmaking, hair, and beauty as well as additional resources towards education for children of survivors.

You can learn more about the organisations supported by the Survivor Leadership Fund here.

 

Pictured: Team members from the Tunaweza Empowerment Organisation.

Photo credit: Tunaweza Empowerment Organisation, 2022.

Written by
The Freedom Fund