SHERO FOUNDATION
Source: https://www.sherofoundation.org/
The SHERO Foundation’s mission is to provide resources needed to support, sustain and empower young girls and women under the age of 25 who have been abused, abandoned, and exploited. They accomplish this by bringing other agencies with similar missions together and being a resource center for those organizations.
It was founded in 2015 by Kimberly Miles in collaboration with her friend and fellow philanthropist, Monica Coburn. SHERO Foundation is a volunteer-driven and sustained 501(c)(3) organization to protect and rehabilitate girls and young women who have been victimized by the evils of sex trafficking and exploitation.
Since its inception, the foundation has made great efforts to serve this vulnerable population and to provide the resources and support that these individuals need to rebuild their lives.
From supplying hygiene kits to securing emergency housing, SHERO Foundation accomplishes its mission through thoughtful partnerships with other like-minded organizations, countless volunteer hours in the community, creative fund-raising and a firm belief that no human being should ever be for sale.
Human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing crime, generating more than $150 billion in profits each year. It is also a crime that is gendered, with women and girls making up over 70% of overall trafficking victims.
However, when it comes to sex trafficking, 97% of the victims are female.
Focusing on prevention is key! There are risk factors that make certain people more susceptible to trafficking, such as childhood sexual abuse, chronic mistreatment and neglect, poverty, homelessness and unstable home environments. Recognizing these elements is essential to providing effective prevention programs.
Runaway/homeless youth and LGBTQ+ youth are two groups that are at extremely high risk of exploitation. LGBTQ+ kids are 5 times more likely than heterosexual youths to become victims.
Acknowledging the vulnerabilities of these distinctive groups allows the foundation to thoughtfully focus their energy and resources in the most impactful ways possible.
Their ultimate and overarching goal is to contribute to creating a future that is free from the scourge of sex trafficking, exploitation, and homelessness.
We want to manifest a world that is kind and fair where equality, opportunity, and justice are available and attainable for all of humanity…and where girls everywhere can rest assured that they will be loved, valued, and empowered. Always.
