Project Hope is SATEDA’s letter writing initiative . It aims to combat isolation among women in UK prisons, where 2 in 3 women are domestic abuse survivors. It can be done anywhere, takes little time, and makes a massive difference.
Project Hope was the brainchild of a SATEDA volunteer who was herself locked up because of her abusive ex-partner.
Volunteers write encouraging letters, cards and poems that let women behind bars know that someone is thinking about them, and they are not alone. Over 2,000 messages of hope are sent to four women’s prisons across the UK. Our writers use only their first name, or a pen name and all letters exchanged go through Project Hope.
Medway and Maidstone Soroptimists have been supporting this initiative since 2021. At our October club meeting members brought in cards to write during the meeting suitable for the holiday period in December. Fifty cards were written with encouraging messages such as,
‘Strong women are not simply born; they are forged through the challenges of life. With each challenge we grow mentally and emotionally.’
This was one of the actions as part of our commitment to support the ’16 Days of Action’ in November to end violence against women.
One of our newer members, Mel Dann Adamson, kindly volunteered to deliver the cards to Project Hope. She can be seen delivering the cards to Valerie Williams of Project Hope.