Jasiri Dada Initiative
Silent Strength Bold Transformation
Confidential Summary
The Jasiri Dada Initiative is a discreet, survivor-led grassroots movement operating in Meru,Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Laikipia and Isiolo Counties, Kenya. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and restore dignity to adolescent girls and young women trapped in commercial sexual exploitation. Founded and quietly supported by women who have themselves exited sex work, Jasiri Dada is rooted in empathy, lived experience, and a deep commitment to healing justice.
We do not operate from a place of judgment, but from one of sisterhood, safety, and solidarity. Our work is intentionally low-profile to protect the identities of survivors and the outreach teams who serve them. We operate in high-risk urban hotspots such, where adolescent girls—some as young as 13—are vulnerable to trafficking, coercion, and survival-based sex work.
To ensure operational integrity and donor accountability, Jasiri Dada Initiative is fiscally sponsored by the Open Gate Foundation, a registered NGO in Kenya, committed to social justice, gender equity, and community transformation. This partnership enables us to access institutional support, financial oversight, and strategic guidance while maintaining the confidentiality and autonomy required for our sensitive work.
Missions
To discreetly support adolescent girls and young women in exiting commercial sexual exploitation and to empower them with alternative livelihoods, psychosocial healing and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
Programmatic focus area
| Pillar | Description |
|---|---|
| Rescue & Referral | Survivor-led outreach teams identify and discreetly rescue vulnerable girls from red-light zones and unsafe environments. |
| Psychosocial Healing | We offer trauma-informed counseling, group therapy, and peer mentorship led by older survivors. |
| Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment | Girls receive vocational training (tailoring, hospitality, and retail), business mentorship, and access to SILC (Savings and Internal Lending Communities) to build financial independence. |
| SRHR Education | We provide culturally grounded, age-appropriate SRHR education and link girls to confidential health services. |
| Safe Reintegration | Survivors are placed in safe housing, re-enrolled in school or training, and supported through long-term accompaniment. |
Geographic Focus
Our work is concentrated in high-risk zones across:
Meru County
Tharaka Nithi county
Isiolo county
Laikipia county
Embu county
These areas are known for high rates of adolescent exploitation, limited access to SRHR services, and weak referral systems. Jasiri Dada fills this gap through community trust, survivor networks, and discreet coordination with local leaders and health responders.
Beneficiaries (Confidential Estimates)
Direct: 5,300 adolescent girls and young women (ages 13–24)
Indirect: 6750 families, 2,000 community members, and 150 trained peer mentors
Why Confidentiality Matters
Our work is built on trust. To protect survivors and the former sex workers who serve as gatekeepers and mentors, we:
Avoid publicity and media exposure
Change contact points and safe house locations regularly
Work only with vetted local leaders, health workers, and paralegals
Share minimal data with funders under strict confidentiality protocols
Do not publish photos, names, or identifying details of beneficiaries
Train all staff and mentors in trauma-informed, survivor-centered care
Partnering with Jasiri Dada Initiative
We welcome quiet partners and values-aligned donors who understand the gravity of this work and the risks taken by those who choose to leave exploitation behind. Our fiscal sponsorship by Open Gate Foundation ensures that all partnerships are managed with transparency, accountability, and care.
To support Jasiri Dada is to invest in a silent revolution—where courage is disguised as calm, and hope blooms in the shadows.
If you believe in dignity beyond visibility, in justice beyond headlines—we invite you to walk with us.