In Kenya

The Kenyarera Women Group, established in 2020, is a key partner in Jua Hope Trust’s mission to empower women and drive social change. Formed by women from local villages, the group played a crucial role in shaping the concept of women-led shelters, combining social entrepreneurship with gender equality. This partnership serves as the foundation for a franchise model aimed at empowering women across multiple regions.

Expanding Globally

Jua Hope Trust is expanding globally by partnering with organizations in Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and India. These collaborations will help create a network of women’s shelters and social enterprises, focusing on combating gender-based violence and promoting women’s financial independence. By working with BMI Trust in India, Nakua Na Taifa Langu in Tanzania, and Rainbo Initiative in Sierra Leone, we aim to replicate our model.

Kenyarera Women Group

The Kenyarera Women Group, established in 2020, plays a foundational role in the mission of Jua Hope Trust. This self-help group, legally owned by its active members, consists of women from both the village where the social restaurant is being built and neighboring communities, united by a vision of empowerment, resilience, and social change.

The partnership with the Kenyarera Women Group traces back to a collaborative effort that began during a social entrepreneurship master’s course in 2020. The concept of creating a franchise model for women’s shelters, designed to promote financial independence and community development, was born through active feedback and input from the Kenyarera Women themselves. Their real-world insights and experiences were instrumental in shaping the project’s blueprint, with a focus on combining social entrepreneurship and gender equality.

Situated on the route to the Maasai Mara National Park, the restaurant is strategically positioned to serve both locals and tourists with regional recipes, providing economic opportunities for local women. However, the initiative goes beyond just creating jobs; it seeks to offer a space for social change and empowerment.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a persistent issue in the Kuria region of Kenya. Despite ongoing national and international campaigns, covert practices continue, with perpetrators often crossing borders into Tanzania or conducting FGM in secret. The Kenyarera Women Group is committed to combating this harmful tradition. Through this partnership, Jua Hope Trust and the Kenyarera Women Group are working to establish a women’s shelter that provides education on FGM and a rescue corridor for girls at risk.

The shelter’s concept is built around financial independence, empowering women to reject harmful practices like FGM and resist domestic violence. This partnership is more than a localized effort; it serves as the prototype for a franchise model that Jua Hope Trust aims to replicate in other regions. Together, they are forging a path towards a future where women are empowered, economically independent, and free from the threats of gender-based violence and FGM.

Despite our strong foundation in Kenya, we are committed to expanding our reach and impact by forming partnerships with like-minded organizations in other countries. Our goal is to foster a global network of women’s shelters and social enterprises that empower women and communities. Through collaboration with established organizations in Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and India, we aim to create sustainable, scalable solutions to combat gender-based violence, promote women’s financial independence, and advocate for human rights. The Jua Hope Trust franchise model allows us to generate funding for future women’s shelters through franchise fees, which in turn will enable us to establish new shelters in collaboration with additional partners. Below are the partnerships we are working on to bring this vision to life.

BMI Trust, India

BMI Trust (Ballerina Management Institute) was incorporated in 2006 by Ratna Satish Joshi and has been a dedicated force in addressing rural issues, particularly those affecting women. Their mission is to uplift rural women through education, health, and environmental protection programs.

Their commitment to long-term, results-oriented training programs resonates with our own mission. At BMI Trust, empathy is key, and they understand that empowering women requires addressing immediate needs such as food security before discussing education or health. With their extensive network of staff and volunteers, BMI Trust has expanded its programs to include senior citizens and the visually impaired, and they are actively engaged with international organizations like the United Nations (ECOSOC).

This partnership will enable us to share resources, knowledge, and strategies to ensure that our women’s shelters are not only places of refuge but also centers for skill development and community resilience.

Nakua Na Taifa Langu, Tanzania

Nakua Na Taifa Langu (NTL), founded in 2019, is a youth-led civil society organization based in mainland Tanzania. Its primary focus is on empowering Tanzanian youth and citizens through leadership development, entrepreneurship, and education. NTL’s mission aligns perfectly with our goals of promoting women’s empowerment and sustainable community development.

NTL has established a reputation for excellence in community mobilization, capacity building, and advocacy across various sectors, including education, health, and environmental conservation. They have a deep commitment to holistic community development, ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to both education and healthcare. Their youth and women’s empowerment programs provide mentorship and training to equip future leaders with the skills needed to effect positive change in their communities.

Through our partnership, we aim to replicate the success of their grassroots approach in our women’s shelters and social enterprises, offering a space where youth and women can be empowered through financial independence, leadership training, and environmental stewardship.

Rainbo Initiative, Sierra Leone

The Rainbo Initiative was born from the aftermath of the Sierra Leone civil war, following the recommendations of the 2002 Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission to provide free psychosocial and reproductive health services to women affected by the conflict. Initially established by the International Rescue Committee, the Rainbo Centres in Freetown, Kenema, and Kono laid the groundwork for what would become a national NGO in 2014.

Today, Rainbo Initiative is a leading organization in Sierra Leone providing free medical and psychosocial services to survivors of rape and sexual assault. They are also active in national advocacy efforts and have extended their reach beyond Sierra Leone into Liberia and Guinea. Rainbo’s work in combating sexual violence and supporting survivors mirrors our own commitment to protecting women and girls from gender-based violence, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).