Sexual assault is one of the biggest issues we face today, yet it’s also the least reported crime. According to data from the National Sexual Violence Research Center (NSVRC), 63% of sexual assaults go unreported to the police, and out of the reported ones, 97.5% of perpetrators go unconvicted. With the inability to rely on the police, victims of sexual assault need somewhere to go to feel comfort and support- that’s where Empowerment Beyond Assault comes in. Empowerment Beyond Assault, also known as EBA, is a student led organization with the goal of uplifting and providing support to victims of sexual violence.

The organization has multiple chapters, one of which is the Virginia EBA chapter- this chapter mainly focuses on local issues and prevalent resources in Virginia. The president of this EBA chapter, Danica Anjelu Javier, is a junior at Hayfield Secondary School who feels passionately about supporting victims of Sexual Assault.

“I discovered EBA when I was scrolling on TikTok. I saw Ariana, the creator of EBA, talking about the devastating statistics of SA. The message of her video resonated with me, as I am a victim of sexual assault myself,” Javier said. “When I saw she was looking for new members, I decided to join the EBA board.”

As the President of EBA’s Virginia chapter, Javier has many responsibilities.

“I manage the activities that happen within our chapter, such as fundraising events. In addition to that, I help produce social media content and brainstorm ideas with the rest of the VA EBA chapter board.”

Although it’s a tough job, Javier continues working hard with the rest of the chapter’s members to spread awareness and offer their support to victims of SA.

“We plan to post informative videos on our recently established TikTok account about local resources and services accessible to sexual assault victims here in Virginia.”

Aside from their TikTok account, the organization has also established an official Instagram, where they’ve already begun posting helpful infographics and awareness posts.

The Virginia EBA chapter has already started to grow, but the President expresses her enthusiasm about gaining new members.

“Anyone can join EBA by contacting the creator, Ariana, at [email protected]. If they’d like to join the VA chapter specifically, they can contact me or the Vice President, Zeniah Nanewortor. Individuals who wish to help our organization can contact me or Ariana to discuss matters- help through fundraising or collaboration in our events would be very useful.”