Welcome to Part 1 of our February 2026 Inspirational Interview with Caroline Markel, Founder of Safe In Harm’s Way, a U.S.-based global nonprofit advancing trauma-informed, technology-enabled solutions for people impacted by violence and coercive control. A five-time Amazon #1 bestselling author, international speaker, and advocate, she has reached hundreds of thousands across six countries through campaigns, media, and partnerships. Her work focuses on practical access to safety, empowering everyday allies, and building collaborative systems that protect dignity, privacy, and choice.
Part 2 of Caroline’s interview will be published 2 February, 2026.
All photos are courtesy of Safe in Harm’s Way.
1. How and why did you join the movement to end violence against women (VAW)?
I am a survivor of abuse who decided to use the pain in my life to be vocal, vulnerable, confident, and take the hand of other survivors to help change the world. Those thirty-two words house over eight years of abuse and ten years of advocating. I made one bold choice after escaping him and finding a safe home. I decided to use my pain and fear in a positive way. My choice to help change the world is my passion now.
2. Could you tell us about Safe In Harm’s Way (SIHW)’s approach to combatting VAW and how this has developed since you founded the organisation?
Our state-of-the-art online platform highlights survivor stories, provides a comprehensive conviction records database, has focused solutions with our personal privacy concierge programme, and cultivates partnerships to expand services and reach, all while enabling immediate access to essential resources and eliminating bureaucratic delays. By creating an online platform with browser privacy protection, our organisation addresses the urgent, unmet needs of those navigating abuse with compassion and understanding.
Our mission extends beyond Missouri with partnership expansion across the United States and internationally.
3. Could you tell us about the services, programmes, and initiatives that SIHW runs to support victims of domestic violence, especially those from historically marginalised communities?
Our vision responds to an urgent global need: accessible, trauma-informed support without barriers. Through secure, diverse online communities, we offer private pathways to healing designed with safety at the core.
Our micro-site, TheLastImSorry.com, serves people of all genders, identities, backgrounds, abilities, and immigration statuses, delivering customised, immediate solutions. Launched everywhere from Times Square to small towns, it has created over one billion opportunities for people to find help—quietly, safely, and in real time.
4. What are some of the particular challenges that SIHW has faced and continues to face in the course of your work?
Safe In Harm’s Way operates at the intersection of urgent need and systemic gaps. Our greatest challenges include reaching high-risk individuals without triggering digital suppression, building trust in moments of crisis, and scaling trauma-informed technology without relying on federal funding.
We also navigate the complexity of serving globally diverse populations while maintaining privacy, safety, and cultural relevance. Despite these challenges, demand continues to outpace resources, making community support and private investment essential to sustaining access and impact.
5. Over the years, what sort of impact has SIHW’s work had on survivors across the communities that you serve?
Over the years, Safe In Harm’s Way has reached survivors at scale while meeting them individually. Through speaking engagements with over 175,000 people, partnerships across six countries, Times Square awareness campaigns, 70 podcasts, and five Amazon #1 bestselling books, we’ve expanded access to trusted information and immediate support.
Today, more than 22,000 people engage with our platforms monthly, using our tools to regain clarity, safety, and agency at critical moments.
