When Omar's Tears Turned Into Trust

Monica is Seen and Protected

When Monica* arrived at the Kids Alive Center for Justice in Zambia, she was 16 years old and carrying the weight of profound trauma. After experiencing abuse within her home, she was unable to remain with her immediate family and was moved between relatives’ houses—each situation marked by instability and risk. Her education was disrupted, and by the time she came into our care, she was no longer in school.

Yet even in the midst of hardship, Monica carried a quiet resilience.

Healing Through Care and Support

From the beginning, she engaged wholeheartedly in therapy—showing up consistently and demonstrating a willingness to understand her experiences and learn healthy ways to process her pain. Through ongoing counseling and support, she began rebuilding a sense of safety and control in her life. She learned how to manage difficult emotions, identify trusted adults, and establish boundaries. Step by step, healing began to take root.

Faith also became an important part of her journey. Through daily devotions and time in God’s Word, Monica began to rediscover her identity—not defined by what had happened to her, but by who she is in Christ. Over time, her confidence grew. She began leading devotions for younger girls in the home—something she once said she could never imagine herself doing. Today, she speaks of prayer with assurance and trusts that God hears her.

When Monica was ready, she returned to school. Despite the time she had missed, her determination was evident. By the end of her first term back, she ranked ninth out of 35 students in her class—a remarkable achievement that reflects both her strength and renewed hope for the future.

A Safe Path Forward

In partnership with social welfare, a safe and supportive family placement was identified with her aunt. As preparations for reunification took place, Monica confidently shared the coping strategies she would continue using to navigate challenges and protect her well-being. On the day she left Kids Alive, she felt both sadness in saying goodbye to friends and excitement about returning to family, where she was welcomed home with warmth.

With continued support from her family and Kids Alive, Monica is moving forward—continuing her education and stepping into the next chapter of her life with courage and confidence.

Reclaiming Her Future

Monica is not defined by her past trauma.
She is alive in Christ, seen, protected, and walking towards restoration.

Thank you for helping create a place where girls like Monica can heal, rise academically, and return home strengthened in faith and confidence.

Become a Safe Haven Champion

Your support helps children like Monica experience protection that heals — professional care, family strengthening, and the steady reminder that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved. Become a Safe Haven Champion today and help justice and restoration take root.

*Pseudonym used for child's safety.

Luana Found Her Voice: From Hiding to Healing

Before Luana* ever arrived at our center, her mother had been doing everything she could to keep her safe. Overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, she kept Luana home and isolated—hoping protection could be found in distance. But that meant school was disrupted, friendships faded, and their world grew smaller with each passing day.

In 2024, the two connected with Kids Alive through alternative education classes and vocational workshops in Manchay. They came as a mother and daughter working to build a stronger future—seeking skills, stability, and renewed opportunity. As they participated, Luana’s mother courageously stepped forward to share that her daughter was enduring abuse and needed deeper support.

Seen and Believed

When Luana arrived at our center, she was 16 years old. She and her mother carried visible exhaustion—the kind that settles in after prolonged fear. A survivor of sexual violence, Luana also lives with a mild intellectual disability, which made it harder for her to fully understand and express what she had experienced. Trauma had shaken her sense of safety, interrupted her education, and diminished her confidence.

From the first meeting, our team committed to walking alongside Luana and her family with dignity and steady care. Before any plan was developed, she was given something essential: the opportunity to be heard and believed.

Healing Through Support and Expression

Through trauma-informed psychological support — both individual and group — Luana began processing her experiences in ways suited to her learning needs. She participated in The Voice of My Heart, a creative expression group that helped her communicate emotions that had once felt impossible to name. Slowly, her confidence began to grow.

Restoration also meant rebuilding daily life. Luana enrolled in and successfully completed a sewing workshop, strengthening her sense of accomplishment and independence. She returned to school and regained access to essential services that had previously been interrupted. Structure, routine, and safe relationships began replacing isolation and fear.

Through coordinated legal advocacy and therapeutic care, our team walked alongside Luana and her mother, guiding them through the legal process while providing counseling support to help them navigate the emotional weight of the journey. One perpetrator was held accountable in court and received a civil reparation sentence for the harm inflicted. In another case, legal proceedings continue with a request for a 23-year prison sentence. These steps represent more than legal outcomes — they affirm Luana’s dignity and reinforce her right to protection.

Reclaiming Her Future

Today, Luana is moving forward with greater emotional stability, practical skills, and renewed hope. Her faith has become a source of strength, reminding her that she is not alone and that her life has purpose.

Luana’s story is a living testimony that when justice that heals is combined with relationships that restore, silence can be broken, dignity can be reclaimed, and a different future can begin.

Become a Safe Haven Champion

Your support helps children like Luana experience protection that heals — professional care, family strengthening, and the steady reminder that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved. Become a Safe Haven Champion today and help justice and restoration take root.

*Pseudonym used for child's safety.