APPROVED DESCRIPTIONS
About Leaving The Jar
Copy either version as is. After the first mention, "LTJ" works great.
SHORT · 50 WORDS
One paragraph
Leaving The Jar is a nonprofit based in Centreville, Virginia, that has worked since 2003 to prevent human trafficking and walk with survivors in four countries. It trains communities across the U.S. to spot trafficking, keeps at-risk students in school in Egypt, and helps women in Kenya and Zambia build their own livelihoods.
LONG · 125 WORDS
Full boilerplate
Since 2003, Leaving The Jar (LTJ) has worked across four countries to stop human trafficking before it starts and walk with survivors as they rebuild. Based in Centreville, Virginia, its Free In Truth Training has equipped more than 2,000 people at schools, universities, churches and community groups across the U.S. In Egypt, LTJ has supported more than 3,000 students with scholarships, safe housing and mental health care, growing from two students to more than 600 a year. In Kenya and Zambia, it has helped more than 300 women leave exploitation through trade training, a women's market and small-business support. LTJ is preparing to open the Well of Hope, a 10-bed, trauma-informed home for girls who have survived trafficking. Its leadership is all-volunteer, and 87% of spending goes to programs.
BY THE NUMBERS
Key figures
2,000+
people trained to recognize trafficking
3,000+
students supported in Egypt
300+
women supported in Kenya and Zambia
87%
of spending goes to programs
HIGHLIGHTS
What LTJ has built
Two decades of work, from village classrooms to a home for girls who survived trafficking.
Four countries
Work that began in Kenya now spans the U.S., Egypt, Kenya and Zambia, with volunteers on four continents.
From 2 students to 600+
Egypt scholarships, safe housing and mental health care keep at-risk youth in university and out of exploitation.
2,000+ people trained
Schools, universities, churches and community groups from Virginia to California, including GMU, ODU and CNU.
Women building livelihoods
Culinary training, a women's market in Zambia and small-business startups in Kenya.
Galas on both coasts
Evenings in Virginia, Maryland and California joined by mayors, law enforcement leaders and survivor advocates.
The Well of Hope
A 10-bed, trauma-informed home for girls who survived trafficking: house secured, county approval in hand, licensing underway.
FAST FACTS
At a glance
Organization
✓ 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 37-1476325
✓ Working since 2003
✓ Programs in the U.S., Egypt, Kenya and Zambia
✓ Free training for schools, churches and community groups
Leadership
✓ All-volunteer leadership
✓ No founder salary
✓ No debt
✓ Form 990s published on our Transparency page
Recognition
✓ $20,000 Gold Prize, Apple Federal Credit Union FinTastic Funding
✓ Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency
✓ Charity Navigator rated
STORY IDEAS
Angles we can help with
Pick one and we will line up the people and the local details.
What Fairfax parents should know about sextortion
How teens are targeted through games and social apps, the warning signs, and what to do in the first hour.
Teaching a community to spot trafficking
What schools, churches and neighbors learn in one session, and what they do differently afterward.
A volunteer team wins a $20,000 prize
How an all-volunteer Centreville nonprofit earned Apple Federal Credit Union's top FinTastic Funding award.
Building a home for girls who survived trafficking
What it takes to open a trauma-informed home for girls, from licensing to community support. The Well of Hope is in progress.
From two students to more than 600
How LTJ's Egypt scholarships grew year after year, keeping at-risk youth in university and out of early marriage and exploitation.
The volunteers behind the work
Trainers, students and professionals who give their time, and why they chose this cause.
PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW
Who you can talk to
Our leaders and volunteers are happy to talk. Just ask.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
Manal Moussa
Leads LTJ's U.S. programs and the effort to open the Well of Hope. Background in public health programming and HIV prevention across East Africa.
✓ Trafficking in North America
✓ Opening a home for girls who survived trafficking
✓ What churches and parents can do
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Isaac Akladeos
His missionary work in Zambia gave rise to the vision that became Leaving The Jar. More than two decades of community service across four countries.
✓ International programs
✓ Education as prevention in Egypt
✓ Women's livelihoods in Kenya and Zambia
OFFICER
Mariz Gobrial
Designs LTJ's training programs, drawing on a master's from William & Mary in human development and behavioral psychology.
✓ Recognizing the signs of trafficking
✓ Prevention training for schools and youth
✓ Trauma-informed responses
VOLUNTEERS
Trainers, students and supporters
The people who lead trainings, mentor students and run community events, and can speak to what the work looks like up close.
✓ Volunteer trainers
✓ University students and young adults
✓ Church and community partners
FOR REPORTERS
Covering trafficking with care
A few small choices that make a big difference.
Privacy
We keep the names, photos and personal details of the people we serve private. If your story needs a survivor's voice, we may be able to connect you with someone who has chosen to speak publicly, on their own terms.
Words and images
"Survivor" or "person who was trafficked" reads better than "victim". Chains and rescue imagery mislead: trafficking usually works through lies and control, not shackles.
Worth including
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888, text 233733, or humantraffickinghotline.org. In immediate danger, call 911.
COVERAGE & RECOGNITION
In the news
BRAND
Logos and colors
High-resolution PNGs, ready to use. Please don't stretch, recolor or add effects, and leave clear space around the logo.
Colors and name
✓ Gold #84651E · Light gold #D0A644
✓ Ink #201E1C · Cream #F5F0E8
✓ Leaving The Jar (capital T in The)
✓ Website: leavingthejar.org