IOFA's Program Initiatives
Prevention of Youth Trafficking Initiative
Each year 1.2 million adolescents are trafficked. The trafficking of young people for prostitution and forced labor is a serious and growing global problem. These youth are subject to sexual exploitation, forced marriage, work as domestic servants, bonded labor and other atrocities that are dangerous to their short and long-term mental health and physical well-being. IOFA is an international leader, working both in the United States and abroad, to develop and implement innovative strategies to combat this heinous crime.
Girls Leadership Development Initiative
Throughout the world, growing up as a girl is fraught with challenges. Across cultures, girls' experiences and needs are chronically undervalued. In response to these challenges, IOFA developed the Girls Talk! program model to promote gender equity and empower young women to act as agents of change in their communities, both nationally and globally.
Initiative to Empower Orphaned Youth
Throughout the world hundreds of thousands of orphan youth live in state institutions. When they are "released" at 18 most of them do not possess the life skills or education necessary to lead healthy lives and many of them end up homeless, trafficked, exploited, or worse.
