Washington, D.C. January 27, 2023
Free the Slaves is excited to announce the addition of two new members to its board of directors. Their experiences with international anti-trafficking programming and advocacy and their passion for improving the global response to modern slavery will be significant assets to the Free the Slaves board of directors.
Fanta Toure-Puri was born and raised in Cote d’Ivoire. She is currently the director of the Girls First Fund, a donor collaborative created to resource community-based efforts to end child marriage. Fanta began her career working in humanitarian relief for a community-based organization in Somalia. Prior to joining the Girls First Fund, Fanta worked for seven years with the World Bank as a Senior Social Protection Specialist; she also worked as the Grants Program Officer at the American Jewish World Service and at ADESO-Africa.
Moninda Marube is a former professional runner, labor trafficking survivor, student, and anti-trafficking activist. He is a founder of the Moninda Movement, an anti-trafficking initiative that saw Moninda run 3700 miles from Maine to Santa Barbara, CA, to increase public awareness of human trafficking. Moninda is involved in community initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.
Tim McCarthy, Chairman of the Board at Free the Slaves, says, “We are delighted and honored to welcome Moninda and Fanta to the Free the Slaves Board. They are both inspiring people who bring remarkable experience and expertise to our work. Fanta and Moninda are already powerful advocates for human rights and social justice, and they will bring new leadership and energy to the growing movement to abolish slavery and advance freedom in our time.”
Bukeni Waruzi, Executive Director of Free the Slaves, says, “I am so honored to have the opportunity to work with Fanta and Moninda in implementing FTS’s vision and mission, especially in these crucial times, the issue of modern slavery requires urgent, bold, and swift actions from local communities and global leaders. Fanta and Moninda’s visionary leadership, connections, and expertise will strengthen the execution of the FTS’s 10-year strategic plan.”
Founded in 2000, Free the Slaves is a pioneer and leader in the global effort to eradicate modern slavery. Our mission is to end the conditions that allow slavery to persist. Free the Slaves works at all levels of society to address modern slavery and human trafficking. At the grassroots level, FTS works to empower individuals and communities who are vulnerable to develop resilience, resist slavery, and remain free. We also work with and through local partners to build organizational and governmental capacity to combat slavery and trafficking. At national and international levels, we advocate for the adoption and implementation of laws and policies that effectively reduce the prevalence of conditions that create vulnerability and contribute to the proliferation of modern slavery.
