Members of Speakout in a pose
Speakout, a non-profit organisation, is among nominees vying for honours in this year’s Women’s Choice Awards ceremony (Agency for Change Award).
Speakout raises awareness about all forms of abuse as well as support victims.
They visit schools in communities, churches and institutions to raise awareness about abuse.
In January, ERN Ruthy, CEO of Speakout, visited The Gambia for a mission for eight months, where her outfit supported families and donated to a maternity ward and orphanages.
“We made a borehole for a community in Banjul to have access to free water. We also gave free counseling to victims of abuse,” she said, adding that “The feedback was amazing, many were enlightened about all forms of abuse and wanted us to do more events in other communities.”
“Some of the money for this mission came from our Ruthysbestsauce that was featured on BBC Good Food Magazine in the UK (every percentage goes towards Speakout).
“They have been abused but no voice to speak, but through Speakout many have been able to speak and started their journey of healing. Speakout was birthed in the UK in September 2017.
“It started online the first time I went online to share my personal story, I heard a voice whispering to me to go online and share my story, I didn’t want to do it, but the voice came again and it was stronger, then when I went online I had 24 thousand people watching.
“We have been advocating and helping people break free from the trauma they have acquired through abuse. We won our first award with unlimited in 2018 in the UK,” she disclosed.
Speakout has been in operation for years and has expanded to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and The Gambia.