Built on belief. Driven by purpose.
A Place Called Home was born from a simple conviction: that every child in Zambia deserves to live free from sexual violence, fear, and silence.
Our Mission
To focus on awareness, prevention, and response to sexual violence against children in Zambia: training church and community leaders, supporting survivors through reporting and justice, and driving policy change that protects children.
Our Vision
A Zambia where every child lives free from sexual violence: where survivors are heard, believed, and supported to rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and justice.
From one person's conviction to a movement
A Place Called Home began in 2014 when Moomba Thornicroft, working in adolescent public health, saw firsthand how survivors of sexual violence against children were falling through the cracks of existing systems. There was no integrated support, and often no voice for those who needed it most, including neighbours who suspected abuse but were afraid to come forward.
Starting with a single phone number, Moomba began connecting survivors to reporting support, and training the community leaders who were already trusted first responders (pastors, teachers, and community leaders) through goodwill and determination. Word spread. The need was undeniable.
Today, Ikhaya runs school awareness programmes, trains church and community leaders in trauma-informed care, escorts survivors through reporting and justice, and conducts research to influence policy. We have trained over 60 pastors and leaders, and helped influence the policy that made sexual offences non-bailable in Zambia.
The work is far from over. Every day, survivors and whistleblowers reach out. Every day, we answer.
Our Core Values
Compassion
Every person who reaches out to us is met with unconditional warmth and empathy.
Dignity
We affirm the inherent worth of every survivor and centre their agency in all decisions.
Community
Lasting change is built with communities, not for them.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical and research standards in everything we do.
A Decade of Impact
A Place Called Home founded by Moomba Thornicroft in Lusaka
Launched school-based awareness programme on child safety and consent
Began training church leaders and pastors in trauma-informed care and response
Played a leading role in the policy advocacy that made sexual offences non-bailable in Zambia
Reached 60+ pastors and community leaders trained in trauma-informed care
Launched a dedicated research arm for implementation science and policy influence
The Team Behind the Mission
Moomba Thornicroft
Founder & Executive Director
With over 10 years of public health expertise in adolescent health, Moomba founded A Place Called Home to fill a critical gap in the prevention of and response to sexual violence against children in Zambia.
Programme Director
Prevention & Capacity Building
Leads our school awareness programmes and our training of pastors, teachers, and community leaders in trauma-informed care and response.
Response Coordinator
Survivor Support & Justice
Coordinates survivor escorts to police and court, whistleblower protection, and follow-up with police to ensure cases are not lost.
Director of Research
Research & Policy
A university-based research partner supporting our implementation science and policy-influence work within the field of child protection.
Join us in building a safer Zambia
Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply share our work: you are part of the change.