Our Story

How an ancient story, a modern encounter, and a single act of leaving became a mission of hope

Why "Leaving The Jar"?

The name Leaving The Jar comes from a moment found in Scripture — a moment of quiet transformation.

In John chapter 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well. She comes carrying a water jar, a practical object tied to her daily survival — and also to the weight of her life. She is burdened by shame, isolation, and a past that defines how others see her and how she sees herself.

After encountering Jesus, something shifts.

“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town…” (John 4:28)

She leaves the jar behind.

That physical act symbolizes something deeper:
the laying down of shame,
the release of a burden she no longer needs to carry,
and the beginning of a new story.

Leaving The Jar represents that moment — when someone is seen, known, and offered dignity, and when life begins to move from confinement toward freedom.

That is the heart of our name.
And it is the heart of our mission.

How It Began

Leaving The Jar did not begin as an organization.
It began with a lived experience.

While living in Kenya, the founder encountered a young girl whose life had been shaped by exploitation at the hands of an older man. The abuse was rooted in a devastating belief — that by exploiting a virgin, he could rid himself of the curse of HIV/AIDS.

This encounter revealed a painful reality:
that exploitation is often fueled by misinformation, poverty, power imbalances, and deeply broken belief systems — and that children and vulnerable individuals bear the cost.

It was a moment that could not be unseen.

That experience exposed how easily vulnerability is exploited when education, protection, and community support are absent — and how urgently intervention and long-term care are needed.

Leaving The Jar was born from that realization.

What The Story Became

From that moment forward, the mission became clear:
to prevent exploitation before it begins,
to intervene when individuals are at risk,
and to walk with survivors toward healing and restoration.

Leaving The Jar exists to address not only the act of exploitation, but the conditions that allow it to happen — silence, misinformation, isolation, and lack of opportunity.

Just as the Samaritan woman left her jar behind, our work is about helping individuals lay down burdens that were never meant to be carried alone.

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Why This Work Matters

Exploitation thrives where truth is absent and vulnerability is ignored.

Leaving The Jar exists to bring light, education, and compassionate action into those spaces — equipping communities to protect the vulnerable and creating pathways toward safety and dignity.

We believe that awareness saves lives.
That early intervention changes trajectories.
And that healing requires patience, presence, and long-term care.