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Stories Changing Lives

Speak out, Heal together - building a community-based platform for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to explore survivorship.

$150
pledged of$100,000 goal
3
0Days Left

Project Description

Sercle Inc is an impact-driven startup on a mission to transform society's understanding and response to sexual and gender-based violence using storytelling, data, and technology.

Problem:

According to findings from a National Survey conducted by UNICEF in 2014, in Nigeria:

  • 1 in 4 females and 1 in 10 males reported experiencing sexual violence in childhood.
  • 70% of males and females who experienced sexual violence reported more than one incident.
  • ½ of females who experienced sexual violence reported that their first incident occurred before the age of 16.
  • 1/3 of females who experienced sexual violence experienced the first incident between 14 and 15, while about 1/3 of males experienced the first incident at 13 years and younger.

Sexual misconduct, which often has little substantive evidence and frequently comes down to a he-said/she-said situation remains one of the hardest cases to prove in court if they make it to court at all. Focusing on survivors and shining a light on their experiences is about changing hearts and minds. The people who are living their lives every day in this country, shape policy, they are organizational and institutional leaders, they are family, friends, lovers, they are the police and lawyers; we need people to really understand what it means to be a survivor and to have deep empathy with that experience. So that when they go out every day, and they - one way or another, affect survivors’ lives, they’re doing it with an understanding of what it is that they have experienced.

Essentially, Sercle Inc is for all victims and survivors of sexual and domestic who are 18 years and above, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, tribe, status, abilities, religion; and because it is an online community - nationality, and race.

We also serve people who are in different kinds of relationships with survivors; people, and institutions who make decisions on their behalf and who make decisions that have an impact on their lives, such as:

  • Family, friends, and romantic partners.
  • The government, decision, policymakers, civil society organizations, legal institutions and law enforcement agencies, school administrators, religious institutions, local and international development organizations, etc.
  • Professional relationships at the workplace and in business.

 

Product:

  1. Storytelling platform (free):
  • a safe and open platform
  • accessible 24/7
  • survivors can share their stories anonymously, in any format (essays, poems, audio, visual storytelling)
  • access helpful resources and tools
  • a healing-based directory and hotlines in different parts of the country
  1. Community-driven platform (discussion forum) (free):
  • closed forums
  • accessible 24/7
  • survivors can process their experiences and trauma, and go through their healing journey
  • in-house counselors to address specific needs
  • a platform for research.
  • Peer-to-peer support
  1. Online and offline therapy services.
  • Safe, trauma-informed, and private therapy sessions
  • Affordable

Our goal is to scale Sercle Inc via an integrated and generalized platform for members of the community in which every victim and survivor of sexual and gender-based violence regardless of gender, sexual orientation, nationality, status, religion, tribe, ability, and race can connect with others who have gone through the same experience, share data and experiences to contribute to research, and heal in a safe space. It is evolving from a safe space where survivors share their stories, fill online surveys to generate data, and go away - if they don’t want to speak to a counselor; to an integrated online platform where they can;

  • share their real, everyday life experience as survivors.
  • share their treatment history, trauma symptoms, and mental health diagnosis.
  • ask questions and get answers from peers who are experiencing the same symptoms and from counselors.
  • Track their healing and learn from peers to better understand their condition, make informed decisions, and improve their outcomes.

Founder:

  • Ijeoma is a social entrepreneur and a research consultant with over 8 years combined experience in the nonprofit and development sector, and in the corporate world.
  • She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Language and Translation Studies from Abia State University in Nigeria and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Nigeria.
  • Ijeoma advocates for survivors' rights and sexual and gender-based violence prevention, specifically sexual and domestic violence, using storytelling, data, and technology. Currently a research consultant at Queens Commonwealth Trust, she is in charge of research, data analysis, content review, and online campaigns.
  • Ijeoma began her journey in the nonprofit sector in 2014 as a volunteer at SlumtoSchool Africa. Slum2School is a volunteer-driven development organization transforming society by empowering underserved children in slums and remote communities with quality education, entrepreneurial skills, and psychosocial support to enable them to realize their full potential and become social reformers.
  • She led the research, grants, and funding team in 2015, and then in 2016, she led the internal communications team.
  • She helped create the organization’s funding strategy and supported nationwide fundraising campaigns, identified and engaged local and international funding partners.
  • She helped advance the enrolment of children from four different slums in Lagos, Nigeria, on scholarships for early childhood education.
  • She has also volunteered as a tutor at Lions Village Orphanage, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
  • In 2016, she created Share Anonymous Initiative, an impact-driven startup that uses stories, data, and technology to transform society’s understanding and response to sexual and domestic violence.
  • Through these experiences, she has developed strong communication, research/data gathering, program development, team building, and strategic planning skills; with a strong passion for gender-based violence prevention, survivors' rights, trauma, mental health, and gender equality.
  • Ijeoma strives to achieve social impact by promoting survivor empowerment and self-healing and empowering stakeholders with data and insights to invest in preventing sexual and gender-based violence.

Chief Psychologist:

  • COKER, A.OLUGBENGA is a seasoned Psychologist with competencies in Psychoanalysis, Mindfulness practices and Positive psychology.
  • UNODC certified drug rehabilitation therapist helping individuals with drug misuse problem attain and maintain sobriety.
  • Trainer, mental and emotional health advocate promoting mental and emotional health, preventing mental illness for productive living.
  • For close to a decade, COKER has devoted himself to researching and studying Human Behavioral Analysis (ABA), its intricacies, factors that influences it, it management and modification for peak performance.
  • As a trainer, Coker A. OLUGBENGA has spoken on work-life balance, assertiveness, individual competitiveness, mastering change, role transition, stress and stress management, leadership and leadership development, team building, time and life management, effective communication, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, self-assessment, discovery and development to mention a few.
  • On the platform of mental and emotional health, COKER has worked with ELPIS EMHRI mental health advocacy organization, University of Lagos, Benson Idahosa University, Lagos state ministry of education, IWS skills acquisition center, Mental Health Foundation-Nigeria, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Women in Business Initiative, AA foundation for widows and children, Mind clinic on inspiration FM, Foundation for the blind, etc.

 

Chief Data Analyst: Temidayo Ajakaiye

Skillset: Financial and Investment Analysis, Leadership, Report Automation, Management, Accounting, Corporate finance, Business Intelligence technologies (Excel, Power Pivot, Power Query, DAX, and M), Financial Modelling, Strategy, Presentation, Storytelling, Valuation, Negotiation, Sales and Relationship Management, Due Diligence, Project Finance, Deal-making, Consulting, and Training.

 

Volunteers: 50 in number.

Psychosocial support – 10 volunteers

Data analyst – 13 volunteers

Graphics designer – 2 volunteers

Media and social media assistant – 12 volunteers

External relations – 4 volunteers

Legal support – 6 volunteers

School/Community program advocate – 25 volunteers

Survivor support – 11 volunteers

Student Reps – 4 volunteers

Forum moderators – 8 volunteers

 

I truly appreciate you for taking the time to read through my pitch and for considering supporting our venture. This is an important vision that has the potential of helping a lot of people, I appreciate you for believing in us and donating to ensure that we achieve it. Thank you, truly! 

 

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Matt
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About the Entrepreneur

Lewes, DE
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Tech

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