About The Campaign

The RAINN Survivor Series encourages those impacted by sexual violence to reach out for help through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which saw a 10% increase in demand in the last year alone. In 2015, 157,157 people turned to the National Sexual Assault Hotline via telephone (800.656.HOPE) and secure online chat (online.rainn.org).

As the personal accounts of the survivors in this campaign reveal, there is no timeline for healing. Half of Online Hotline visitors use the session to talk about an event that occurred within the last six months, while 30% discuss an event that occurred more than 5 years ago.

Watch and read the accounts of seven survivors–Keith, Julianna, Adam, Samentha, Lucy, Barbara, and Debra–to hear how RAINN helped them and how they are healing today.

Read the full press release. View the full production credits.

Meet The Survivors

"You gotta believe that what happened to you wasn’t your fault. And then you can make that transition to being a survivor." Read Keith's story.

"That’s why RAINN plays such a huge part in my life, because I get to share my story, and I get to empower other people." Read Julianna's story.

"RAINN allows for people not to be judged. And by people telling their story like I’m doing, it shows people who are victims, you know what, they’re saying it now. It’s okay if I tell." Read Adam's story.

" I really just wanted somebody to listen and be like, “Hey, that’s not crazy that you feel that way. Like, that’s just part of healing and it’s going to be okay.” You’re not alone. You’re not wrong. It’s not your fault." Read Samentha's story.

"I walked away with nothing. I decided I was going to heal myself. I would become a champion. I would take all this, all this hurt, all this pain, and turned it into something uniquely positive." Read Barbara's story.

"I’m glad to know that there’s somebody that understands what it means to have everything stripped from you. I just think it’s just the best organization that they could have for people that are afraid to run, people that are afraid to tell. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid to tell." Read Debra's story.

"That kind of painful memory and something that your body has gone through–the more you hold it in, the more it poisons you. With RAINN, it’s about healing that and making a safe space." Read Lucy's story.

Special thanks to Getty Images Creative Grant recipients:

Susan Carolonza Chanin (Project Development, Executive Producer, Mother Image)

Poppy de Villeneuve (Director)

Rana Faure (Photographer, Mother Image)

Florence Buchanan (Creative Director, Project Buchanan)

Production Credits