Freely in Hope

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Equipping survivors and advocates to lead in ending the cycle of sexual violence.

We are survivors, advocates, scholars, and leaders who live freely because we are no longer victimized by the pain of the past. Together, we are getting closer and closer to the day sexual violence is history—believing that hope is always present.

10/19/2026

A Message from our Incoming Executive Director.

As Freely in Hope enters a new chapter of local and survivor leadership, our incoming Executive Director, fridah wawira , reflects on the transition, the people at the heart of this work, and the possibilities ahead.

Read Fridah’s full message through the link in our bio.

🔗 https://www.freelyinhope.org/message-from-fridah/

10/16/2026

To mark International Day of the Girl, Freely In Hope joined the Salvation Army’s “Never Too Young” conference at Libala Temple in Lusaka, Zambia, engaging over 200 children and teenagers in learning and growth.

Through interactive sessions on self-awareness and self-care, participants explored their identities, shared their stories, and expressed their dreams with confidence.

The theme reminds us that girls are never too young to know their worth, speak up, care for themselves, and shape their futures. Every girl deserves the support and opportunities to make her voice heard and her dreams possible.

10/11/2026

What must change for girls?
Protect us. Invest in us. Listen to us.

For International Day of the Girl Child, we asked the girls at Unity Primary School—a school we work closely with through our Pendo’s Power and child protection program—to share their vision on Manila posters about what they need to be safe, thrive, and lead.

Here is what they said:

🛡️ Protect Us: End child marriage, teenage pregnancy, FGM, abuse, and discrimination so girls are safe at home, at school, and online.

📈 Invest In Us: Provide quality education, healthcare, nutrition, leadership training, and equal opportunities to thrive.

📣 Listen To Us: Respect girls’ choices and involve them in decisions: “We need people to listen to us, guide us, and give us opportunities to shape our own future.”

Ending child marriage requires safe environments, education, and adults who take girls’ voices seriously. When girls speak up, we have a responsibility to listen and act.

What would you change to make the world safer and fairer for girls?

📍 Pendo’s Power x Unity Primary School Collaboration

🔗 Learn more about our child protection work at Freely in Hope via the link in our bio.

09/21/2026

For many survivors, education has been within reach—but the workplace itself often hasn't. Even after a degree is earned, barriers like market saturation, the challenge of navigating a job search without the right strategy, the 'experience paradox' of needing experience to get experience, gender inequities, and limited exposure to formal employment spaces can quietly keep the workplace out of reach.

The Professional Development Incubator (PDI) is a one-year program that equips Kenyan and Zambian fourth-year university scholars and alumni with career readiness tools, mentorship, leadership formation, and networking opportunities as they transition into the workplace and pursue their goals beyond their scholarship.

The first session focused on identity, confidence, and emotional resilience. Through personality tests, reflection, and interactive exercises, participants explored the projects they could pursue, the problems they could help solve, and the kind of person they hope to become over the next 5–10 years.

As the facilitator put it, "Your potential and purpose are useless if not explored." And just as importantly, "Continue being curious at every stage of your life."

From understanding who they are to exploring what they can contribute, this was a meaningful first step into the year ahead.

09/18/2026

Healing often begins with hearing someone else say, "I've been there too."

Malkia, meaning "queen" in Swahili, is a program for women in forced prostitution to access support, build skills, and reimagine what's possible for their lives. Recently, the women themselves asked for something specific: a storytelling session, a space to share, listen, and learn from one another.

The session was facilitated by women who have walked this journey themselves—living proof that it's possible to start again and that women who've faced similar paths can become leaders and role models for others still finding their way.

One participant put it simply: "I am not alone. It is possible to walk away from the streets. If they did it, I can too."

Together, the women explored the life cycle of a butterfly and practiced the butterfly hug—a gentle reminder that transformation isn't instant. Every stage matters.

Sessions like these are where healing takes root—one story, one shared moment, at a time. And every woman who walks through that door leaves a little less alone than she came in.

At Malkia, a woman's past does not define her. Her story is still being written.

09/16/2026

What does it take for a business to survive three years?

For Juliet, a Malkia alumna who runs her own nail and hair salon, the answer has been consistency—showing up for her marketing and branding again and again, even when it wasn't easy.

The Malkia Program, meaning "queen" in Swahili, creates space for women in prostitution to build skills, access mentorship, and pursue sustainable livelihoods beyond the streets. Juliet came through that same journey herself—and this time, she returned not as a participant, but as a facilitator, leading a session on marketing and branding alongside the team.

Together, they walked participants through the difference between marketing and branding, how to identify what makes their business unique, and simple, practical ways to promote their work—from word of mouth to social media to the everyday experience they offer their customers.

At the center of it all was a simple belief: even small businesses built from informal settlements can stand out and grow with the right story and the right strategy behind them.

This is more than business. It's what happens when the support you once received becomes the support you pass on.

09/14/2026

As we celebrate 15 years of survivor-led impact at Freely in Hope, we are stepping into an extraordinary new season of growth!

We would love to invite you to a virtual Meet & Greet with our incoming Executive Director, Fridah Wawira Nyaga, alongside our Founder, Nikole Lim. This gathering is a special space for our supporters to connect directly with Fridah, ask questions, and hear firsthand about our vision for scaling survivor-led leadership across Kenya and Zambia.

Whether you’ve walked with us since year one or joined our journey recently, your partnership has made this transition possible. We can’t wait to share what’s ahead and celebrate this milestone together!

Join us on Zoom on September 24, 2026 at 10 AM PST. Register at bit.ly/welcome-fridah

09/12/2026

A new chapter for Freely in Hope.

We are delighted to welcome Fridah Wawira Nyaga as our new Executive Director.

Fridah brings years of experience championing women’s rights and working to end sexual violence in Kenya. As we continue growing as a survivor-centered organization, her leadership reflects our commitment to locally led, survivor-centered change.

We are excited for all that this next chapter holds. Welcome, Fridah!

09/10/2026

At today’s Malkia session, the women learned about human trafficking, exploitation, and their rights.

Malkia, meaning ‘queen’ in Swahili, is a program that supports women in forced prostitution through skills development, economic empowerment and creating opportunities for women to build safer and more sustainable futures.

Understanding human trafficking helps women in forced prostitution recognize when they may be experiencing exploitation, coercion, or abuse. It also equips them to identify warning signs, understand their rights, make informed decisions, and know where to seek support.

One of the Malkia beneficiaries shared that she can now better sense danger and is able to advise friends who may be experiencing or are at risk of human trafficking.

For the Malkia women, the knowledge gained through today’s session is not only helping them protect themselves, but also giving them the confidence to look out for and support others.

09/09/2026

Fifteen years ago, Freely in Hope started with a single spark: providing holistic scholarships to a small group of survivor-leaders.

Today, we are thrilled to announce a landmark milestone in our journey: Freely in Hope is transitioning to a fully local, survivor leadership. 🌍

As our Founder, Nikole Lim | Survivor Care Advocate , is stepping down after 15 years of dedicated service, it is our distinct privilege to introduce our incoming Executive Director, Fridah Wawira Nyaga—a veteran champion for women’s rights with the strategic vision, local expertise, and wisdom needed to guide our next era of growth.

This transition fulfills our core theory of change: that those most impacted by sexual violence possess the ultimate wisdom and authority to lead its solution.

Under Fridah’s leadership, Freely in Hope will continue expanding critical initiatives like the Arise Scholarship program for survivors of sexual abuse, the Malkia Program for young women escaping forced prostitution, and Pendo’s Power for educators stopping child abuse.

As Fridah shares: “This marks a defining chapter as Freely in Hope deliberately shifts its top leadership to Africa and to the communities most impacted by sexual violence. I am profoundly honored to lead this next phase.”

We will celebrate this historic handoff globally on October 24, 2026, during our 15th Anniversary Gala in San Francisco. Join us and RSVP today: freelyinhope.org/gala

Address

2550 Ninth Street #206M
Berkeley, CA
94710

Website

http://www.freelyinhope.org/

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