"Safe Haven: Empowering Survivors.

PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT

Project Title: Safe Haven: Empowering Survivors
Project ID: 63466
Organization: Voices of the Defenseless
Reporting Period: October 2026

1. Project Progress

Voices of the Defenseless continues to pursue its mission of supporting survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Our organization is committed to listening to survivors, respecting their wishes, protecting their dignity, and helping them access appropriate support as they work toward safety and recovery.

During this reporting period, we provided some direct assistance and referrals to support survivors facing difficult circumstances. However, our progress has remained limited because of inadequate financial resources. We have not yet achieved all the objectives established for the Safe Haven project, particularly the provision of sustainable safe accommodation, comprehensive counseling, and emergency assistance.

We also received laboratory medical equipment through Miga Solutions. We are grateful for this contribution, which supports our longer-term goal of improving access to appropriate health-related assistance. The equipment has not yet been put into use, and additional resources and appropriate arrangements are needed before it can contribute to service delivery.

Despite these challenges, Voices of the Defenseless remains committed to continuing this project and seeking the support necessary to serve survivors more effectively.

2. Assistance Provided to Survivors

Our work remains guided by the understanding that every survivor deserves to be heard, treated with dignity, and supported without judgment. During this period, we provided some direct assistance and referrals, helping survivors seek appropriate support according to their circumstances and needs.

We recognize that survivors may require safe accommodation, emotional support, medical care, legal guidance, and protection for themselves and their children. Our ability to provide these services directly remains constrained by limited funding. Where possible, referrals and connections to appropriate services are important steps toward helping survivors access the assistance they need.

We remain committed to ensuring that survivors' choices, safety, and individual circumstances guide the support offered to them.

3. Challenges and Limitations

The main challenge facing the project is insufficient funding. Available resources have not been adequate to establish and sustain the full range of services originally planned.

Safe accommodation requires appropriate facilities and ongoing operating costs. Counseling, medical support, emergency assistance, and legal referrals also depend on reliable resources and partnerships with qualified service providers.

These financial limitations have slowed implementation and restricted the number of survivors we can assist. Although we have made some progress through direct assistance and referrals, we acknowledge that the project has not yet established a fully operational safe haven.

We are therefore continuing to seek financial contributions, in-kind donations, and partnerships that can help us move from limited assistance toward a more sustainable support system for survivors.

4. Lessons Learned

This reporting period has reinforced the importance of sustainable funding and strong partnerships in survivor-centered work. We have learned that responding to the needs of survivors requires more than commitment alone; it also requires reliable resources, coordinated services, appropriate facilities, and continued collaboration.

We remain committed to responsible resource management, safeguarding, transparency, and listening to survivors. We understand that rebuilding lives takes time and that support must respect each survivor's dignity, choices, and safety.

5. Plans for the Next Reporting Period

During the coming months, Voices of the Defenseless intends to:

• Continue fundraising to support the Safe Haven project and its planned services.

• Strengthen partnerships with shelters, health professionals, counselors, legal service providers, and other relevant organizations.

• Continue providing assistance and referrals within our available capacity.

• Work toward establishing appropriate safe accommodation and emergency support when sufficient resources are secured.

• Explore ways to improve access to counseling, medical referrals, and guidance for survivors seeking protection and justice.

• Seek the resources and arrangements necessary to put the donated medical equipment to appropriate use.

• Improve documentation of project activities and outcomes to strengthen accountability and future reporting.

The implementation of these plans will depend on the funding, partnerships, and resources available.

6. Appreciation to GlobalGiving and Our Donors

Voices of the Defenseless sincerely appreciates GlobalGiving and all our generous donors for their support, trust, and contribution toward fulfilling our organization's mission.

Every contribution matters. Your support helps sustain our commitment to listening to survivors, recognizing their needs, and working toward a future where they can access safety, dignity, and appropriate assistance. We are grateful to everyone who believes in our work and continues to stand with us despite the challenges we face.

Although limited funding has prevented us from achieving all our original objectives, we have not abandoned the Safe Haven project. We remain determined to build partnerships, mobilize resources, and gradually expand our capacity to support survivors.

Our guiding belief remains that no one should have to suffer in silence. With continued support from GlobalGiving, our donors, and our partners, we hope to make the vision of a safe haven a sustainable reality for survivors who need it.

Thank you for standing with Voices of the Defenseless as we continue working toward a safer and more dignified future for survivors.

Submitted by:
Annette Nawls
Founder and Authorized Representative
Voices of the Defenseless
Website: https://voicesofthedefenseless.org