Crossroads International Restores Life-Saving Programs for Women and Girls in Tanzania, Thanks to $1M Emergency Gift from The Slaight Family Foundation
TORONTO, ON – July 30, 2025 – In response to devastating global aid cuts by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The Slaight Family Foundation is stepping up with $13 million in emergency funding to 13 Canadian charities—including $1 million to Crossroads International. This urgent investment is helping restore critical services that were recently defunded, leaving millions of the world’s most vulnerable people without support.
Thanks to this emergency gift, Crossroads International and our local partners in Tanzania, TUSONGE Community Development Organization and NAFGEM (Network Against Female Genital Mutilation) are now resuming life-saving services for girls and women most impacted by the U.S. funding withdrawal.
These restored programs include access to safe shelters, emergency health services, trauma counselling, and legal support for survivors of gender-based violence, including women and girls with disabilities and those living with HIV. Many of these women were left without any protection or recourse following the U.S. aid cuts.
“This funding is helping our local partners in Tanzania sustain and strengthen the work they’ve built over years, despite serious threats to their capacity,” says Heather Shapter, Executive Director of Crossroads International. “Thanks to The Slaight Family Foundation, women and girls will continue to access safe spaces and protection, led by local organizations committed to long-term, community-driven change.”
The impact of the USAID cuts has been immediate and severe, representing billions of dollars in global aid losses. Programs for food security, health care, education, and child protection have been reduced or suspended entirely.
In Tanzania, Crossroads’ partners are now able to:
- Re-launch 30 Girls’ Protection Groups — safe spaces where over 600 girls learn about their rights, build leadership skills, and gain support against harmful practices such as early marriage and abuse.
- Resume distribution of sanitary pads to thousands of girls previously forced to miss school or use unsafe materials—protecting their health, dignity, and education.
- Expand access to sexual and reproductive health education, immunization information, and nutrition support in remote areas.
Altogether, more than 25,000 girls and women in Tanzania will regain access to protection, health services, and education—services they would otherwise be denied due to global funding shortfalls.
While this generous support has restored vital programs, the gap left by the shift in U.S. aid policy is enormous—and growing. The needs remain urgent and widespread.
Crossroads International is inviting other foundations, institutions, and individual donors to step forward and come together at this critical time. Collective action is needed now more than ever to ensure no one is left behind.
Join us in bridging the gap. Donate or learn more at cintl.org.
Media Contact:
Francette Maquito
Communications Manager
Communications@cintl.org
Join the conversation and help amplify this crucial collective action on social media using #SlaightInitiative and #IAmACrossroader.
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About Crossroads International
Crossroads International and its community of partners, volunteers and donors champion the rights and well-being of vulnerable women and girls in Africa.
Together with women and girls, we create the grassroot conditions where they can be free from violence, achieve their economic power, be decision-makers and resilient to changing climate.
