We are happy to introduce you to Oaks of Hope International! They are a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting women and girls in the U.S. and Nigeria through health, education, and economic empowerment. They accomplish this work by resource dissemination (books, journals, and training materials, among others), glocal outreach for their services, and event hosting, including offering workshops and retreats.
They remind us that investing in women’s health and economic agency has the power to change life paths for generations of people. Its founder and Executive Director is Oluwatoyin “Toyin” Fadeyibi, Pharm.D, MPH—and we had the chance to chat with this wonderful human recently! We discussed the organization’s resources and impact they are having. Read our conversation below. (The interview has been condensed for clarity purposes.)
FemmePharma: How did you come up with the “Worthy” coloring book?
Dr. Fadeyibi: Worthy! Devotional Coloring book came to me amidst a season of serving women in desperate need of hope in homeless shelters and women who were at risk for Human Trafficking. Also, in that season, I was newly enjoying coloring as a means of decompressing and meditating. I still remember the moment the God-idea dropped into my heart, and how captivated I was by how unique it was. I remember gasping as I pondered the idea, knowing, without a doubt, it was a divine idea I had to pursue.
FemmePharma: What was your process in developing the coloring book into other resources, like the cards and journal?
Dr. Fadeyibi: As with many creative projects, once you begin, the ideas organically flood in. It wasn’t long after the Coloring book was released that I realized, for example, since I was providing folks with prompts in the Devotional, I should probably produce a journal with space where they can write down their thoughts and responses. The idea for the Affirmation Cards came from the desire to stretch the resource further—to make it more portable, easily fitting in purses, and share-able. As I began doing Worthy! workshops in the community from the devotional coloring book, it solidified the need for these complementary resources.
FemmePharma: How have you seen these various elements—written words, coloring, and journaling, among the others—infuse hope into the girls and women engaging them?
Dr. Fadeyibi: Great question! First and foremost I would say, as a woman of faith who has personally experienced significant benefits from Scriptures, it [Scriptures] is a core part of our resources. We meet women where they are—and many of the women who engage with us and our resources are not women of faith but are open, curious and most importantly desiring of the encouragement and hope that we offer. We have not experienced it repelling to the women we serve! Second, we anchor our mission on a thorough framework by SAMHSA—the federal agency that sets the agenda for the country on Mental Wellbeing, which states that for a person to be whole, 8 dimensions of wellbeing must be simultaneously addressed. Oaks of Hope International’s focus through our resources and programming is on 3 of these dimensions: Spiritual, Emotional, and Social. Last, and certainly not least, is that in our experience we have found published research by reputable journals to be true—creative expressions, journaling, and coloring are therapeutic tools that support emotional regulation and ease anxiety. There is also scientific evidence that maps faith practices to boost mental health, giving meaning to life and lowering stress, as well.
FemmePharma: You referenced programming alongside resources. Could you share more?
Dr. Fadeyibi: Yes, we have a Signature Worthy! Workshop, a therapeutic and uplifting experience that provides a safe healing space for reflection, sharing, journaling, inspiration, and meditative coloring. These workshops are regularly held in-person at homeless shelters and with trafficking victims and sometimes even virtually! In addition, we host Worthy! Retreats for the staff of our client organizations, who are serving vulnerable women day in and day out—to curate a space for their replenishment, reflection, inspiration, and connection with one another.
FemmePharma: Are there testimonials from collaborators in your mission or women you have helped that you would like to spotlight?
Dr. Fadeyibi: Here are two! One is from a collaborator, Rooted In Love, and the second is from a woman named Elizabeth C., who came to us in her healing process.
“Rooted In Love has been partnering with Oaks of Hope for nearly two years, and the impact has been truly amazing. Through this partnership, we’ve been able to give beautiful affirmation cards as Christmas 2022 gifts to over 200 women, and the response has been overwhelming. The women love how simple and meaningful these cards are, easily integrating them into their daily lives. These resources have touched women at all stages of their faith journey, helping them grow closer to God.
As we prepare for our 2024 Christmas visit, we are thrilled to be providing devotionals to 250 women who work in the adult entertainment industry across South Jersey, The Jersey Shore, and Philadelphia. The simplicity and beauty of these products uplift women, offering hope, truth, and encouragement in their faith. We’re eager to see how God will continue to work through Oaks of Hope in the lives of the women we serve.”—Karen Peet, U.S.
“It really takes courage to leave an abusive relationship. I have been held down by the thought of what the future will hold for me outside the union. I am strengthened by a topic in Worthy Devotional that says “Anticipate joy in your next chapter.” — Elizabeth C., Nigeria
FemmePharma: We think the diversity of women you reach out to is awe-inspiring, powerful, and beautiful. Can you speak to the range of women you help with your resources?
Dr. Fadeyibi: From the very beginning of the idea being planted, I knew without a doubt who the primary audience was. Women in desperate need of hope and who were often overlooked, particularly those experiencing housing instability, victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, incarcerated women, and also women fighting to overcome addiction. I have also been very pleasantly surprised that it [the work] has connected deeply with women who are not in any of those categories, but who are more generally still in need of hope and the therapeutic benefits from coloring, journaling, and meditation our resources offer.
Read more about Oaks of Hope International here.
