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Impact Reports

2022 Our Wave Impact Report

Overview

2022 marked another year of significant growth for Our Wave, as we more than doubled our reach to survivors in 41 countries. This global expansion underscored the universal need for a safe, supportive community where survivors can share their stories and access resources. We also strengthened our partnerships to roll out targeted resource referrals, ensuring survivors receive critical support tailored to their unique circumstances. These new initiatives demonstrate Our Wave’s ongoing commitment to breaking down barriers and nurturing healing on an international scale. As we look ahead, we remain devoted to empowering survivors everywhere with hope and solidarity.

Community

15,554

+815% 1

Active community members

Storytelling

200

+13%

Survivor stories shared

Platform Reach

41

+105%

Countries with shared stories2

Milestones

1,716

+1,342%

Survivor milestones achieved

Achievements

We doubled our reach to survivors in 41 countries

We rolled out survivor resource referrals with trusted partners

Thank you to our partners

Our Community

Our community flourished beyond borders in 2022, creating an even broader network of survivors and allies. By connecting individuals across 41 countries, Our Wave fostered a powerful sense of shared understanding and compassion. This growing tapestry of voices continues to reaffirm our collective belief that healing is both personal and universal—and that no one has to go through it alone.

15,554

+815%

Active community members

15,310

+801%

New community members in 2022

Our Wave's community growth since our launch in 2019

Community engagement

102,229

+123%

Content views all time2

56,400

+72%

Content views in 2022

What is a view on our platform?

We define a view as a meaningful period in which a user reads or engages with content on our platform, including survivor stories, questions, and resources.

A community of support

2,439

+69%

Story reactions all time2

1,000

+24%

Story reactions in 2022

What is a story reaction?

Story reactions are pre-written messages of support that Our Wave users can send anonymously to survivors who share their story. This allows the community to show support while protecting a safe space for survivors.

Every survivor has a unique journey

1,716

+1,342%

Survivor milestones achieved

1,494

+3%

Grounding exercises completed

What is a survivor milestone?

Milestones mark the number of times our community has engaged with each survivor's story. Each milestone represents the impact a survivor's story has had on other survivors, allies, and the community as a whole.

Storytelling

As more survivors joined Our Wave from around the world, storytelling continued to be the heart of our platform. Each new account of resilience and triumph added depth to our collective narrative, reminding us that every story holds the potential to inspire others. By amplifying these voices, we’re able to combat stigma, cultivate empathy, and encourage more people to come forward with their own experiences.

200

+13%

Survivor stories shared

3

Survivor artwork shared

91

Messages of Hope shared

102

+2%

Messages of Healing shared

A global community of survivors

Hover over the map to explore

Country

Stories shared2

United States

249 +104%

United Kingdom

20 +122%

Australia

17 +70%

Canada

16 +300%

Philippines

10 +67%

India

6 +20%

Indonesia

5 +150%

South Korea

4 +300%

United Arab Emirates

3

Austria

3 +50%

31 more

41

+105%

Countries with shared stories2

43

+39%

U.S. states & territories with shared stories2

State/Territory

Stories shared2

California

21 +91%

New York

21 +17%

Florida

16

Pennsylvania

15 +50%

Ohio

11 +120%

Illinois

10 +150%

Texas

10 +233%

New Jersey

8

Indiana

6 +200%

Massachusetts

6 +200%

33 more

Self-reported identity and experiences from survivors 2,3

Self-reported survivor race

Self-reported survivor gender

What are self-reported survivor metrics?

When a survivor shares their story with our community, they have the option of selecting tags that represent their identity and their story. These include gender, race, location in which the story took place, and their relationship to the offender.

Self-reported sexual orientation

I was...

Home

193

in School / University

106

Traveling

21

Other

129

at Work

23

at a Social Event

41

in a Bar / Restaurant

30

in the Military

7

The offender was a...

Family Member

120

Stranger

74

Authority Figure

50

Acquaintance

88

Non-Romantic Friend

73

Romantic Partner

110

Casual / First Date

31

Survivor Questions & Answers

The survivor Q&A feature remained a cornerstone of support, providing tailored guidance from experts. As our international presence grew, so did the diversity of questions and experiences shared, leading to richer and more inclusive discussions. This ongoing dialogue helps survivors access clear, reliable information, empowering them to make informed decisions about their healing journey.

54

+157%

Survivor questions answered all time

33

+57%

Survivor questions answered in 2022

Answering questions asked by survivors across the globe

Hover over the map to explore

Country

Questions submitted2

United States

7

South Africa

5

Philippines

2

Bahrain

1

Greece

1

Ireland

1

India

1

Poland

1

8

+700%

Countries with submitted questions2

5

+400%

U.S. states & territories with submitted questions2

State/Territory

Questions submitted2

Pennsylvania

2

Colorado

1

Florida

1

Maryland

1

New York

1

Survivor Resources

In 2022, we partnered with trusted organizations to offer resource referrals, bridging the gap between need and care for survivors. From legal aid to counseling services, each referral is carefully vetted to ensure safety and quality. This collaboration allows survivors worldwide to connect with crucial support systems in a timely, effective manner. It’s one more way Our Wave is committed to providing holistic, accessible aid on the road to healing.

What is a resource referral?

We define a resource referral as each time a user visits our resources hub and then clicks on a link to visit one of our trusted resource partners.

References & Considerations

This report encompasses data collected from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023.

All stories and messages written by survivors are used with the survivors' permission to publish.

We made significant changes to our metrics reporting processes from 2019 to 2022. Because of these changes, some metrics may contain inaccuracies when compared to later years.

1 Comparison to the same metric during the previous annual report period.

2 Aggregated metrics from the founding of Our Wave in 2019 to the end of 2022.

3 Demographic and tag data from stories submitted directly to the core Our Wave storytelling platform (community.ourwave.org)

Do you have any questions or recommendations about our data? Send us an email at [email protected].

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