Dear Friend, Partner and Colleague,
 
Just a few years ago, the idea of survivors especially across Africa shaping global anti-trafficking conversations felt like a distant dream. But last week, that vision took a bold step forward. Twelve membersof theAfrican Survivor Coalition, a movement born from our vision at Footprint to Freedom, had the honor of representing us at the UNODC Voices of Resilience Global Survivors Forum in Vienna, Austria. For the first time, survivors didn’t just participate, they co-created the agenda and led discussions in a truly transformative global space.
 
And that was just one part of a powerful quarter.
 
We also launched our Safe Footprints Kids Guide, had bold conversations with kids through our Kids Club initiative, and advocated at the shores of Lake Volta, taking our message across communities, countries, and high-level platforms.
 
This edition brings you into those moments, what we saw, what we learned, and the hope we’re building, one footprint at a time.
 
Happy Reading!
 
Joy S. Kingsley
Director of Strategy, Impact & Movement Building.

 

Voices of Resilience Global Survivors Forum 

24th -25th June 2025

Last month, we witnessed a historic moment as survivors took center stage at the UNODC Voices of Resilience Global Survivors Forum in Vienna. The forum marked a major shift toward truly survivor-led solutions, placing lived experience at the heart of global anti-trafficking efforts.

Our Founder and Executive Director, Malaika Oringo, played a key role behind the scenes, working closely with the UNODC team to help bring this space to life and she delivered a powerful closing speech that reminded the world of the strength, clarity, and leadership survivors bring to the fight against trafficking.

Twelve members of the African Survivor Coalition, a Pan-African movement founded by Footprint to Freedom, represented us at the forum, powerfully amplifying the voices and realities of African survivors. We also led a presentation alongside our colleagues from Latin America titled “Unity as a Way of Protection” – highlighting the shared struggles survivors face in seeking justice and healing, and the need for all sectors to work together in supporting them.

This forum reaffirmed a global truth: meaningful solutions must be survivor-led.

The Salvation Army Africa Zone Communities of Practice Conference – Ghana

28th April – 1st May 2025

This quarter, we joined National and Territorial contact persons at the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response (MSHTR) Conference, hosted by The Salvation Army Africa Zone in Ghana.

Our Founder & CEO, Malaika Oringo, and Director of Movement Building, Joy Kingsley, co-facilitated a session on welcoming survivors, sharing practical tools for trauma-informed, survivor-led support. One of our founding members at the African Survivor Coalition, Engage Now Africa also modelled what meaningful partnership looks like: not just listening to survivors, but building alongside them.

Grounded in the Fight for Freedom framework and its 8 Ps (Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Partnership, Policy, Participation, Prayer, and Proof), the conference addressed return and reintegration, survivor dignity, and inclusive service models.

Faith-based organizations play a critical role in the fight against modern slavery. The Salvation Army continues to lead by equipping its officers, members, and staff with the tools and training needed to respond with compassion, accountability, and care. Our partnership with the Salvation Army grows stronger, united by a shared commitment to survivor-led, faith-driven action across Africa.

Strategic Meeting with the British High Commission in Ghana

One of our core priorities at Footprint to Freedom is bridging the gap between survivors of human trafficking and the high-level institutions shaping response systems across Africa.

This commitment came to life in Ghana, where we met with representatives from the British High Commission in Ghana. The purpose of the meeting was to foster deeper collaboration between survivor leaders, the BHC, and local stakeholders, and to explore joint responses to trafficking issues in Ghana.

We engaged in a meaningful dialogue on trafficking trends in Northern Ghana, the rise in forced scamming, and the need for survivor-led insights in crafting effective responses.

We are grateful to Richard Pugh-Cook and the British High Commission team for their openness, hospitality, and willingness to collaborate. We look forward to next steps including: Joint capacity-building initiatives, Stronger coalition coordination and Continued survivor-institution engagement

Beyond Survivors Convening Ghana – Centering Ethical Survivor Engagement & Inclusion

On May 2nd, we facilitated the second in-country convening of Beyond Survivors a platform and collective of survivor-informed resources focused on safeguarding, ethical inclusion, and meaningful survivor engagement supported by ChildX following the first held in Uganda. This meeting held in Ghana and hosted in partnership with Engage Now Africa, the workshop centered on:
“Building Ethical Partnerships Between CSOs and Survivor Leaders: Centering Safeguarding, Inclusion, and Engagement.”

The gathering brought together survivor-led organizations and civil society actors in Ghana to strengthen trauma-informed, dignity-based reintegration practices. Participants addressed critical issues including cyberharassment, coerced disclosures, and confidentiality breaches, while sharing practical strategies for survivor-centered safeguarding.

Toolkits were distributed, first responder training commitments were made, and a clear path was set toward inclusive, ethical survivor engagement across Ghana and beyond.

By leading this workshop, Footprint to Freedom reaffirmed its commitment to ethical collaboration and cross-border learning, ensuring that survivor-informed tools are accessible and actionable across the movement.

The Assembly Europe 

Elevating Survivor Voices in Financial Crime Prevention

We were proud to be represented at ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists) – The Assembly Europe 2025 in Paris. Our Founder and CEO, Malaika Oringo spoke on a powerful panel titled “Financial Inclusion as a Human Right,” alongside Joby Carpenter, exploring how financial institutions can better support survivors of human trafficking. As Malaika shared during the session: “We need to change the lens on how we look at human trafficking. Sustainable freedom is what survivors need.” The event brought together global leaders in financial crime prevention and highlighted the urgent need for survivor-led insights in designing inclusive, impactful solutions. We are grateful to ACAMS for creating space for survivor voices and for reinforcing that true innovation must include lived experience.

Safe Footprints

A Kids Guide to Staying Safe from Human Trafficking

https://youtu.be/qBGdrSLnVeE

We’re proud to share that we successfully launched Safe Footprints, a child-friendly, survivor-informed safety guide designed to help children understand and protect themselves from human trafficking.

Through interactive activities, age-appropriate language, and bold visuals, this guide aims to equip young people with practical tools to stay safe both online and offline.

Thanks to the generous support of ChildX and eLiberare, Safe Footprints has began distribution in classrooms, communities, and online across multiple countries.

But the journey doesn’t end here. With your support, we can print and distribute even more copies to reach the children who need it most.

 

Donate today and help keep kids safe.

 

Click the link below to read the resource.

 

Read the Safe Footprint Guide Here

 

Run for Freedom

Staying Safe Online and Offline

This quarter, we took a powerful step forward in raising awareness and building safer communities through our Run for Freedom initiative.

Together with ChildX, we brought the message of human trafficking awareness and prevention to Bugabwe Primary School through a vibrant, community-centered awareness event. The day began with a symbolic Run for Freedom, a school-wide run that united students, teachers, athletes, and community members in a powerful show of solidarity against human trafficking.  Following the run, we facilitated interactive learning sessions on: How traffickers operate across labor, sexual exploitation, and online grooming Online and offline safety for young people and communities. Recognizing red flags and taking action to protect others The event served as a powerful conversation starter, creating space for honest questions from children, reflections from teachers, and commitments from community members to keep the dialogue going. 

Prevention starts with access to inclusive, accurate information, and lasting change requires all of us.

A Visit to Ghana’s Lake Volta

In partnership with Engage Now Africa, a member of the African Survivor Coalition, we visited communities around Lake Volta including Azizakpe, Afflivé, and Pediatorkope where child trafficking and labor remain urgent concerns.

Rooted in harmful reinterpretations of tradition and systemic poverty, many children face hazardous working conditions. Engage Now Africa is leading vital efforts to raise awareness, support education, and provide vocational opportunities to at-risk and out-of-school youth.

A powerful moment was witnessing survivors, once rescued from these same communities, now producing school uniforms for the children in these communities, proof of full-circle healing and community-driven transformation.

We also engaged parents in critical conversations on the importance of education and their role in breaking cycles of exploitation.

The Unusual Suspect 

A Door-to-Door Awareness Outreach 

In collaboration with Bugabwe Primary School’s Footprint Kids ClubTeam, we led a door-to-door outreach in Iganga District, Uganda, under the theme: “The Unusual Suspect.” The outreach engaged families directly, raising awareness about human trafficking, how to spot the signs, and how to protect children from false promises, forced labor, and early marriage. We reminded communities that traffickers often appear as helpers and that prevention starts with knowledge. Every conversation planted a seed of awareness and protection.

We’re excited to introduce to you, our Technical Advisory Team (TAT) – a powerhouse group of experts, survivor leaders, and change makers who are joining forces to strengthen and scale survivor-led work across Africa!

The TAT is a voluntary, behind-the-scenes think tank providing strategic guidance, trauma-informed insight, and technical support to help our programs grow stronger, smarter, and more sustainable. From mental health and grassroot outreach to policy and economic resilience, eeach member brings invaluable skills to help our programs grow smarter, stronger, and more sustainable.

David K. Awusi­Vice Chairperson, Technical Advisory Team Founder & Executive Director of Youth Rise International (YoRI)­

Heather Wokusch­Organizational Mentor, Technical Advisory Team Global public speaker, EdTech and PeaceTech consultant.­

Victoria Nyanjura­Member, Technical Advisory Team Founder of Women in Action for Women & Chair of the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking ­

Sarah – Jane Danchie­Member, Technical Advisory Team Director for Africa at the global impact management and advisory firm, The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC) and Co-founder of the Africa Chapter of TSIC­

Tjitze Risselada­Member, Technical Advisory Team Learned expert in Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, trained at MetaStory Institute, with a passion for survivor-centered advocacy.­

David Siaffa Massaquoi­Member Technical Advisory Team Communications Secretary and National Contact Person for Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking for The Salvation Army Liberia Territory.­

Evita Situma­Member, Technical Advisory Team Experienced Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer & SAMLIT Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Expert Group Member­

Arthur Ssemuyaba­Member, Technical Advisory Team Senior Associate & Advocate/Lawyer at Shoebill Advocates Kampala, Uganda, and Legal Advisor Footprint to Freedom­

We’re proud to continue building the African Survivor Leadership Academy (ASLA) – a survivor-led, Afro-centric training platform launched last year to equip survivors and allies with the tools to lead, heal, and drive change across the continent.

Course trainings begin this July, covering:

• Understanding Human Trafficking in Africa
• Afro-Centric Trauma Resilience
• Legal Literacy
• Survivor Leadership Development
• Non-Profit Management & Strategic Funding
• Economic Empowerment & Sustainable Livelihoods

Announcement

Call for Survivor Leaders from North and Southern Africa!­

Meet the TAT team below

Are you a survivor leader from North or Southern Africa?If you’re a survivor of human trafficking engaging in advocacy, community work, or social justice, and would love to join the African Survivor Coalition,  we’d love to connect with you. Please email us at info@footprinttofreedom.org with a brief introduction about yourself

Get Involved!­