Courage Worldwide, Inc.

I have been volunteering with Courage Worldwide in Tanzania since 2016. The programs they have created and the lives they have transformed as a result of these programs are nothing short of remarkable. Each year, I see immense growth. I see girls transformed, educated, and sealed with the knowledge that they are deeply loved by people and by God - that what happened in their past doesn’t define who they are. The staff are incredible and sacrifice everything to love and support these girls. And now, there is even a cafe and coffee shop where their girls can learn real-life skills to propel them into the working world. I cannot say enough good about what this organization does!

I began as a volunteer with Courage 3 years ago after witnessing the incredible work being done by this organization. So much so, that I became a staff member and relocated my life across the world to be a part of this extraordinary and comprehensive anti-trafficking work. In these last few years, the organization has grown so much - now supporting 60 girls and their children. There have been many expansions, now including sustainability projects (Courage Cafe, Courage Products and Courage Coffee) and the development of new programs (vocational training and Courage House Too). I have seen firsthand the lives being transformed every single day. I can't imagine more fulfilling work and a better team to work alongside with.

I have supported this organization from the onset, have met the staff and the girls rescued from trafficking, visited the home in Tanzania, and have seen first hand the amazing restoration of these young victims as they are given a home, education, spiritual care, and support of their own children. In the midst of the pandemic, not only have their needs been met, but Courage Worldwide was equipped to open a Courage Cafe to bless the community, help support the organization, and provide invaluable work training for the older girls, plus launch sales of outstanding Courage coffee from Tanzania. It is truly a top notch organization and I am blessed to be connected as a supporter.

We became familiar with CH/CWW 10+ years ago from a friend. We offered to host the then residents on an overnight excursion. We were fairly leery of inviting these girls into our lives. I can without a shadow of a doubt say from observing and interacting with them, and even a couple the following years, that their lives were transformed with the support and care of CH. It made such a profound impact on us we began financially and prayerfully supporting CH and even partnered with them to start up a scholarship fund at a local college. We continue to support them through Courage Worldwide. We are very very discerning when choosing which organizations to align ourselves with and Courage House/Courage Worldwide are by far worthy of our support. We have witnessed first hand the love of CWW in action.

I started out volunteering for this non profit for several years and eventually was hired as Community Relations Director. 4 years ago my husband and I relocated to Tanzania as Executive Directors of Courage House Tanzania. While the CA closed in 2016 because of law changes (CA policy changed to have a short term mental health program STRP and success of Courage House was a long term program) the growth in Tanzania has been incredible. Courage House is now caring for 60 girls and children, and employing 40 national staff. In 2021 we expanded to 2 homes and opened courage cafe for sustainability. In 2022 we are expanding to former Capitol city of Dar Salaam, TZ and the goal is expansion in other parts of East Africa after that. CWW website has all updated info to learn more. The vision has become a reality of building homes and seeing lives of girls as young as 8 yrs old rescued out of trafficking restored. It's been an honor to be a part of the team at Courage the past 13 years. www.courageworldwide.org

I was amazed when I saw that this organization has a Gold Seal on Guidestar. As the other reviews indicate, the organization has a very spotty, fraudulent reputation in Northern California where it previously served minors in a residential setting. They are stellar at marketing their services, fundraising for services that do not exist and misrepresenting themselves to donors and churches. I encourage potential supporters to look up the articles that the Sacramento Bee has published on Courage Worldwide (aka Courage House).

This organization and its founder, J. Williamson, were spotlighted in an article in the CLARIONLEDGER.COM (Clarion Ledger newspaper, Jackson, Mississippi,) on 4-19, 2015. Very shallow article. Searches don't bode well for the organization; no current info.

This organization operates as a group-home funded by county and federal funding which is $9,000 per bed per month - they are licensed for six beds for a total of $54,000 per month yet they continually raise funds from the faith community. Other licensed programs are transparent about this but this organization is not but instead has changed their name to Courage Worldwide to now say they are building homes around the world.... This organization is fraudulent and needs to be audited.