OUR MODEL
How are we creating change?
We use a 'Responsibility Model' rather than a 'Rescue Model'. Instead of handouts, we equip and empower women with the necessary tools they need to lead and thrive in all areas of life.
The vicious cycle of sex work
Adverse childhood experiences-
86% of the women report mental health issues stemming from adverse childhood experiences: abusive parents, intimate partner violence, sexual abuse rejection wounds, stigma, and discrimination,
Poverty - urban poor and living in Nairobi's most underprivileged & underserved communities.
Constant arrests - this leaves them in a constant cycle of debt since each time they're arrested they have to pay to get out meaning they have to keep working to stay afloat.
Lack of education - most women in
sex work lack basic secondary school education.
Low self-esteem and self-confidence - the sex work industry is designed to erode ones sense of dignity and worth.
Lack of job skills - to compete in the formal work sector. 66% lack a high school diploma, and thus sex work becomes the
ONLY choice.
Single Parents - 9 out of 10 (90%) of the women we have met are single mothers
and the sole breadwinners for
their families.
Open Door Cafe
Every fortnight on Saturday nights, a team of committed volunteers goes out to the streets in Nairobi's red-light district. We serve and share a home-cooked meal with approximately 20-40 women each night. To us, this simple act of eating together may not mean much, but to the women who are often seen and valued for their bodies, it is a chance to be seen, heard, and respected.
Join our Volunteer team here!
Group Trauma-informed Therapy
We offer 6-week trauma-centered group therapy sessions with a qualified therapist. This unique opportunity allows women in commercial sex work to courageously face their past traumas, discuss their mental and emotional challenges, and develop practical tools for emotional resilience and self-care.
Economic Inclusion
Our job skills training program empowers women who wish to permanently exit commercial sex work with practical skills, confidence, and resources needed to access other job opportunities. This comprehensive program covers both;
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Small business skills and financial support to start or grow a business
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Employment skills and access to formal jobs through partnerships
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Life Skills Empowerment
Empowerment Forums offer women a unique space to learn and engage with topics that matter most in their daily lives. We invite experts to lead discussions and workshops on a variety of relevant issues such as Financial Literacy, Substance Abuse, Food & Nutrition, Parenting, Reproductive health etc.
These sessions offer valuable insights and practical skills, empowering women to foster growth in all areas of their lives.
Women and girls in sex work are often driven by desperation, trauma, and lack of alternative economic opportunities. Regardless of how they ended up here,
we are committed to helping them rewrite their stories.
Take a moment to watch this short documentary made by our dear friend and partner, Tony Koros. It gives a true experience of our Saturday night Outreach, reflecting the challenges and joys we share.
