Programs and results
What we aim to solve
At its core, human trafficking is the exploitation of vulnerabilities, which is a deep rooted social-tribal equity issue in Sudan and South Sudan. Exploitation due to extreme poverty is perpetuated by a North-South war lasting more than five decades — the longest civil war in Africa. When South Sudan gained its independence in 2011, war re-erupted. This relentless conflict has forced millions to flee and destroyed infrastructure at every level, including education, agriculture, access to medical care, access to clean water, and a lack of bridges and paved roads. To prevent human trafficking, Lift Up the Vulnerable works with local and international partners to identify and address root causes of exploitation and seek solutions for equipping and driving positive change.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Empower vulnerable children & women
Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV) prevents the trafficking and oppression of vulnerable children and women in warzones.
In conflict zones such as Sudan and South Sudan, which are marked by violence and extreme poverty, the most vulnerable are kidnapped as child soldiers, sold as sex slaves, and trapped in forced labor.
Our solution is a holistic empowerment model that prevents trafficking and empowers children and women to thrive as change agents in their own lives and communities. Since 2005, our leaders have a proven track record of effectively navigating and building partnerships in warzones and lawless lands.
Through the only indigenously directed anti-human trafficking network spanning Sudan and South Sudan, LUV provides protection, education, and economic development to eliminate the exploitation of vulnerabilities, provide freedom, and restore hope. We envision a world where vulnerable children and women are empowered, and, and, through them, war-torn nations are transformed.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
ECFA 2021
External reviews

Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children and youth who have received access to stable housing
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, At-risk youth
Related Program
Empower vulnerable children & women
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We provide safe housing, food and nutrition, clean water, and preventative and emergency medical care for vulnerable children who have no other options.
Number of children who have access to education
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Young adults, At-risk youth
Related Program
Empower vulnerable children & women
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Children are provided with formal education from pre-K through high school. Young adults are offered continuing education through literacy, higher education, and vocational training.
Total number of acres of area indirectly controlled under cultivation
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Young adults, At-risk youth
Related Program
Empower vulnerable children & women
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We support local income generation, agribusiness innovation, and other initiatives to ensure self-sustainability.
Number of indigenous leaders empowered.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Empower vulnerable children & women
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We empower indigenous leaders who are utilizing their experiences, expertise, and resources to care for the vulnerable in our anti-trafficking network.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Lift Up the Vulnerable (LUV) is an ecumenical Christian mission organization that prevents the trafficking and oppression of vulnerable children and women in warzones. In conflict zones such as Sudan and South Sudan, which are marked by violence and extreme poverty, the most vulnerable are kidnapped as child soldiers, sold as sex slaves, and trapped in forced labor. Our solution is a holistic empowerment model that prevents trafficking and empowers children and women to thrive as change agents in their own lives and communities. Since 2005, our leaders have a proven track record of effectively navigating and building partnerships in warzones and lawless lands. Through the only indigenously directed anti-human trafficking network spanning Sudan and South Sudan, LUV provides protection, education, and economic development to eliminate the exploitation of vulnerabilities, provide freedom, and restore hope. We envision a world where vulnerable children and women are empowered, and, through them, war-torn nations are transformed.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Preventing human trafficking in warzones requires an agile, integrative approach — addressing extreme poverty, instability, lack of infrastructure and resources, which leave millions in Sudan and South Sudan vulnerable or exploited. Women and children are at the highest risk. We take a holistic approach by extending practical training, tangible support, and spiritual care to empower change agents in their own lives and worlds. The following essential resources are critical components to addressing vulnerabilities and preventing exploitation and trafficking:
1) Protection: We provide safe housing, food and nutrition, clean water, and preventative and emergency medical care for vulnerable children, women, and the elderly who have no other options. We understand that these basic necessities establish a foundation for life and serve as vital resources for building community.
2) Education: Children are provided with formal education from pre-K through high school. Adults are offered continuing education through literacy, higher education, and vocational training. Spiritual mentoring is available for all to encourage, support, and inspire. Through each aspect of this program, it is our goal to see bodies protected, minds expanded, and hearts transformed.
3) Economic Empowerment: Grassroots economic development is a game-changer for transitioning aid-dependent and insecure communities toward empowerment. Investing in children and women to be independent and innovative is a key requirement to help transform communities and reduce vulnerabilities.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
LUV goes where trafficking of the vulnerable is high and little to no other help is available. Since 2005, our leaders have a proven track record of effectively navigating and building partnerships in warzones and lawless lands. Through the only indigenously directed anti-human trafficking network spanning Sudan and South Sudan, LUV provides protection, education, and economic development to eliminate the exploitation of vulnerabilities, provide freedom, and restore hope.
LUV’s core competency is to provide total infrastructure support to the most vulnerable children and women in the warzones of Sudan and South Sudan. This infrastructure includes: housing, healthcare, education, mentorship, clean water, food, agriculture and community development opportunities. In addition, the following core competencies demonstrate how we approach our unique mission:
a) Warzones: LUV goes specifically to conflict zones and lawless places where there are little to no other organizations offering care; where there are little to no other resources; and where basic infrastructures are not available (food, water, roads, education, etc). LUV provides total care for the most vulnerable children and women in wartime.
b) Indigenous Leadership: To participate in effective change-making in lawless lands, LUV builds partnerships with indigenous directors and their local staff to creatively address the issues affecting the vulnerable in culturally appropriate ways. Together, we determine specific steps and strategies to provide consistent, sustainable care for the children and women under our care. LUV offers much ‘boots-on-the-ground’ time at each location to deepen trustworthy relationships with these vital human resources and experts in their areas.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Throughout 2021, our partners helped us make an incredible difference in advancing our mission to prevent trafficking and empower changemakers in warzones. Together, we:
Protected 553 Children
Educated 1,491 Students
Equipped 166 Local Leaders
Education is LUV's largest trafficking prevention program and provides academic excellence, spiritual mentorship, and practical tools that equip students to transform their own lives and communities.
1,184 pre-school-8th grade students
255 high school students
53 continuing education students (34 in university and 19 interns)
199 high school graduates since 2016; including 49 in 2021.
In the next five years we will take strategic steps to scale up our farming initiatives to over 400 acres. At each of our sites LUV’s partnership will enable the entire community to restore hope and tear down exploitative cycles by building their own income-generating systems. At maximum capacity, we anticipate our farm project will serve approximately 24,500 individuals. This replicable program produces crops that are both nutritional and diverse and also includes beekeeping, animal husbandry and nutrition education.
In 2021:
70 community women trained in farming and nutrition
120 acres cultivated at two school farms
30+ plant varieties harvested for diet diversity
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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LIFT UP THE VULNERABLE INC
Board of directorsas of 02/28/2023
Louise Coggins
John Van Rens
Dr Linnea Smith
Rev. Lauran Bethell
Joann Hsieh
Gustavo Quintero
Mary Boney Clark
Elika Dadsetan-Foley
Marilyn Dixon
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/28/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.