Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Manigault.
Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My drive for helping others was instilled in me by my parents, who taught me to give food, clothes, and toys to those in need. Seeing the faces of those I was able to help always filled my heart and drove my need to genuinely care for others even more.
The passion for helping women who are victims of sexual violence, human trafficking, and those aging out of the foster care is driven by something very personal. I experienced trauma myself when I was only four years old, and the devastating effects of that continued into my youth. I was fortunate to have found my voice and I want to give that opportunity to those women in need, who have not been able to reach that defining moment in their lives yet.
Aside from my personal reasons for helping victims of sexual violence and human trafficking, I am driven by the dire need within our local community of Charleston. Human trafficking continues to plague communities across South Carolina with 121 recorded cases of human sex trafficking in 2021! The number of children and adolescents identified as victims are rising at an alarming pace. I feel an obligation to be part of the solution.
It all started in 2015 when I began doing workshops with young girls in the community, churches, and camps to teach them about boundaries, self-love, and body safety. Things changed for me dramatically when my daughter turned four – the age of my first abuse. I decided then that I needed to do something that had a much bigger impact, a wider reach.
In 2017, I started I AM VOICES, Inc. — a nonprofit with a mission to provide restorative care to young women at risk or victims of sexual exploitation. We provide housing, resources, and support to young women whose experienced human trafficking, sexual violence, aged out foster care, and bouts of homelessness.
Just in 2021 alone, 100% of our program participants successfully completed the program,75% received their GED/High School Diploma, and 100% of women become employed.
Our program is changing lives and making our community a safer place for young girls and women, but we desperately need funding to continue to bring these services to those in need.
Over the years, I became a speaker for organizations that focused on advocacy like RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), a facilitator for Darkness to Light, and Lead Presenter for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). I also created mentorship camps, community events, and became a six-times Best-Selling Author. I absolutely love being a speaker, supporting others, and I know that this is what I am purposed to do in life. My biggest reward is seeing the young women we help at I AM VOICES recover and grow.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey of self-healing and empowerment has been full of lessons, with the biggest one being that no one can thrive while living in survival mode. It is imperative to BELIEVE that you can overcome the obstacles and that there is light and sunflowers on the other side. That’s why one of the biggest things we focus on at I AM VOICES is providing trauma-informed therapy and group sessions.
The biggest struggle for me is not being able to meet the vast need for these services in our community, in our own backyard. I want to be able to pull every young woman out of the grasp of sexual violence, human trafficking, or homelessness, but in order to do that, we need funding to expand our programs.
None of this has been easy but I believe, that as a community, we can, and we will address this very real problem.
As you know, we’re big fans of I AM VOICES INC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I AM VOICES is a nonprofit located in North Charleston, SC, dedicated to supporting inner-city & suburban girls and young women, especially those affected by sexual violence, human trafficking, aged out of foster care, and homelessness. We have partnered with organizations to help our community understand and identify sexual violence and mental illness. These partnerships allow us to stay involved in meeting the mental, physical, and emotional needs of inner-city & suburban girls and young women.
My proudest moments are when I see yet another young woman complete our program and enter an independent life, free of abuse and pain.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I started I AM VOICES with my personal funds and help from close family and friends. We ran mentorship camps, awareness events, and workshops. I thought that just because I was helping from the heart others would too! But the reality settled in, and I realized that the need was much greater than what my personal funding could accommodate. I simply wanted to support girls and young women who had experienced trauma and I wanted them to know that their voice mattered. I wanted them to understand that they could bloom in this life.
Using our voice to raise awareness about sexual violence and human trafficking in South Carolina has sometimes been met with resistance and lack of understanding from the community. We know that the topic is still seen as taboo, and we make it a priority to offer educational and preventative training for youth and adults to continue to raise awareness and be a vocal advocate. I AM VOICES makes the distinct decision to be the voice for those that may have lost their own.
Pricing:
- $25 monthly pays for one participant transportation to/from work
- $50 monthly pays for one participant full supply of hygiene products
- $100 weekly pays for one participant food supply
- $250 monthly pays for one participant’s therapy sessions
Contact Info:
- Email: info@iamvoices.org
- Website: www.iamvoices.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamvoices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamvoices
- Other: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LQM33PD6BT9C4
Image Credits
Jen Wilson Photography
