S2E3 - Mary-Justine Todd: Breaking the Silence on Abuse & Domestic Violence

Mary-Justine Todd is the Founder and Executive Director of Shamsaha. Based in Bahrain, Shamsaha is a non-profit organisation which provides 24/7 crisis support for victims of abuse and domestic violence. The Shamsaha app will be launched and available starting next month, to scale the humanitarian services in Bahrain, making 24/7 multi-lingual and culturally sensitive crisis support services available to millions of women for the first time ever throughout the Middle East.

Inspiring champions of empowerment; Shamsaha possess technical, cultural and emotional intelligence and applies it with skill to uplift women everywhere. Shamsaha provides 24/7 telephone and in-person support for victims of domestic and sexual violence, free and confidential. They also offer medium and long term case work care for women who need ongoing services.  

Mary-Justine is the winner of EY’s 2018 Middle East Winning Women Award for women entrepreneurs. She is also Afkarech’s 2018 Woman of the Year and the 2019 International Gold Prize Stevie Award winner for women in non-profit business. Additionally, she is the winner of Ingrid Vanderveldt’s Empowering A Billion Women 2020 – Most Innovative App Award, as the creator of the Shamsaha mobile app. 

As part of L’Oréal’s ongoing efforts and commitment to support women’s rights, L’Oréal Fund For Women has pledged AED1.24 million to Shamsaha, to support its mission in protecting, advocating and empowering women in the GCC. Shamsaha will utilize the funds to expand the crisis program’s services and on-ground operations to the UAE as well as KSA, Oman, and Kuwait.

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Connect with the host Ameera on LinkedIn at Ameera Khalid ACCA or by email on inspiringuaewomen@gmail.com