Free The Girls is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to coming alongside sex trafficking survivors with a path to true freedom. It’s a journey from horrific trauma to reintegrating into the life they were meant to live within their family and community. Their goal for true freedom is measured by economic freedom, restored health, social well-being, education, and opportunity for a different, hopeful future.
Mission: We exist to help women rescued from sex trafficking reintegrate into their communities.
Vision: We see a world in which previously enslaved women are leading vibrant, successful, integrated lives.
HOW DO THEY DO IT?
Free The Girls partners with groups like Quintessa who have a heart for victims of trafficking. With holistic reintegration programs and economic opportunity through bras, Free The Girls offers the opportunity for these women to empower themselves to change the trajectory of their lives. It’s our joy that we can help contribute toward something simple that can become extraordinary.
By donating your new or gently used bras, you’re giving economic opportunity that these women use to change their lives. Your financial donation helps survivors of human trafficking start their own businesses selling bras in their local second-hand clothing markets while they recover and build their new life. We accept both new and gently used bras of all sizes and styles, including sports bras, nursing bras, and camisoles.
HOW DID THEY GET STARTED?
Free The Girls launched its first pilot program in Mozambique in 2011 after co-founders Dave Terpstra and Kimba Langas envisioned a unique model to provide safe economic opportunity for victims of sex trafficking. They wanted to answer the question, “What are these women being rescued to?” There’s an interesting story you can read here about A Man with an Umbrella, which sparked something simple that became extraordinary.
In February 2012, Free The Girls was featured in a 3-part series of stories by CNN’s Freedom Project. The response was amazing, with an outpouring of support from all over the world! We were able to ship over 30,000 bras to Mozambique and increase the amount of women in our program there from 3 to 24. CNN then aired a 30-minute follow-up documentary on Free The Girls in February 2013 called “Mozambique or Bust”.
The media exposure introduced us to new partners, and we launched pilot programs with after-care providers in Uganda and El Salvador–increasing the total number of women we have served to 60. To date we’ve collected over 600,000 new and gently used bras from women all over the world, and have recently launched an additional program in Costa Rica!
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT & DONATE TODAY
As a thank you for donating your gently used bras of all sizes and styles, including sports bras, nursing bras, and camisoles, Quintessa will give you 10% off your next skincare purchase.
WHERE DO I DONATE? Each of Quintessa’s five locations are listed as official drop-off points. You can stop in and donate your support anytime during business hours.
