Restore hope to sexual abuse survivors in Zambia

With your generous support, we've made significant strides in breaking the silence of church related abuse in Zambia. Our recent initiatives have focused on equipping law enforcement, women, and youth with the knowledge and tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse, fostering environments where survivors can find support and justice.

Empowering Law Enforcement to Support Survivors

In Chongwe, we trained 28 police officers on understanding abuse dynamics within church settings and other institutions. The workshop included discussions on how abuse happens, how power can be misused, the tactics abusers use, how trauma affects victims and how to ask questions in a sensitive way.

The officers reported coming away with a better understanding of how to support survivors and how important it is to be fair and compassionate in their work. They also shared the need for stronger cooperation with other services, like health workers, and suggested that victims could be interviewed by officers of the same sex to help them feel more comfortable.

“The workshop helped me understand the importance of responding to abuse cases with sensitivity and compassion. I will work to create a safe and supportive environment for victims of abuse.” – Police officer

“I learned about the prevalence of grooming. I will be more vigilant in my investigations and work to hold perpetrators accountable.” – Police officer

This training helped officers reflect on their own attitudes and gave them practical tools to build stronger cases and support survivors with care and respect and marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening the justice system’s response to abuse more widely.

Community Workshops: Amplifying Survivor Experiences

We conducted workshops with 56 youth and 50 women in Chongwe and Lusaka, focusing on understanding and preventing church abuse. These sessions provided safe spaces for participants to share experiences, challenge harmful norms, and learn about available support services.

Youth Engagement:

For many of the youth present, some already serving in leadership roles in their community, there was an eagerness to be change drivers in their communities which was encouraging to see. Discussions around contributing factors to abuse and around consent revealed continuing prevalent societal misconceptions, which were addressed through open dialogue and education.

“I feel more confident in my ability to recognize and respond to abuse. I will be an ally to those who have been affected and support them in their journey towards healing.” – Youth participant

Women's Empowerment:

The women's workshops, conducted in mostly local languages (Bemba and Nyanja), facilitated honest conversations about the challenges of reporting abuse and the importance of understanding legal rights. Participants expressed a strong desire to disseminate the knowledge gained:

“I feel empowered to speak out against abuse and support those who have been affected. I will use my voice to raise awareness and promote a culture of respect and empathy.” – Woman participant

These workshops not only increased awareness of abuse in faith settings but in other contexts including the home. It also sparked grassroots momentum for ongoing education, advocacy and survivor support as the women commited to a follow up meeting to train peers in their community. We’re now working to develop further resources to support these emerging local leaders.

Your Impact: Creating Safe and Supportive Communities

These initiatives are part of our ongoing commitment to restore hope to survivors of church-related sexual abuse. By educating law enforcement and community members, we're building a network of informed allies dedicated to preventing abuse and supporting survivors.

Your continued support is vital in expanding these programs and reaching more communities. Together, we're fostering environments where survivors are heard, believed, empowered to seek justice and heal from their trauma.

Thank you for being such an integral part of this journey.