Where Digital Griots Emerge as Future Leaders & Content Creators on a Voyage of a Lifetime
Redeeming what was lost
REDEMPTION VOYAGE 2026
In November 2025, nine young women and nine young men between the ages of 21 and 28, of African descent, from the United States, will set sail for the West Coast of Africa on a commissioned ship, for what will be a 6-month journey. Launching from Mobile, AL, the voyage will reverse the route of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive to the U.S. from Benin (then named Dahomey) in 1860, with 110 kidnapped Africans, which was illegal by that time.
The “Redemption Voyagers” will bring the world with them across the Atlantic Ocean to Benin, Ghana, The Gambia, and Senegal, where they will be welcomed by the elders and be reunited with family. Voyagers will return to the U.S. from Senegal by way of Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA (noted as the location of the arrival of the first Africans to English-speaking North America in the year 1619), followed by Charleston, SC, and then complete the epic journey in Mobile, AL where it began.
The stories of the Voyagers will be shared around the world, as they learn oceanic navigation, collect water samples to study climate impact on marine and coastal life, participate in cross-cultural exchange, and document the entire experience utilizing advanced technology. These Digital Griots will impact the world, as they create solutions from knowledge gained on the voyage, based in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), and from the overall cultural, spiritual, and historical knowledge and wisdom acquired from the epic experience. Download a PDF copy of the RV2026 Official Proposal here.
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Redemption Voyage 2026 is a true ‘Sankofa’ experience…learning from the past to inform the future, reaching back to move forward, and lifting as we climb (symbolized by the Sankofa bird). Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan Tribe of Ghana.
Who We Are
20 Million Women Strong
Redemption Voyage 2026 is an initiative of 20 Million Women Strong (20MWS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to create access to careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math).
Join us in healing the wounds of slavery, past and current (over 5 million people are enslaved around the world today), and its painful, traumatic impact on generations of formerly enslaved people of African descent, by supporting the historic Redemption Voyage.
What Motivates Us
OUR INTENTION
“Slavery doesn’t end with emancipation, it ends when freedom prevails. Freedom prevails when the fears of violence and oppression are gone, when the scars of violence are healed and the doors to all are open and inviting.”
– Audri Scott Williams, Vision Keeper, Redemption Voyage
Redemption Voyage
West Africa Destinations
BENIN
Port of Cotonou
GHANA
Port of Tema
THE GAMBIA
Port of Banjul
SENEGAL
Port of Dakar
Get Involved
We seek volunteer support in a variety of areas including general outreach, fundraising, grant writing, aligning corporate sponsors, curriculum coordination, and orientation for the Voyagers. Please click on the button to email us with your questions and interest. Thank you!
Sponsor the Voyage
We seek sponsorship support from businesses and corporations that align with our intention to create a more just and equitable future for all people and the planet. Click the button to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, and become part of this unprecedented effort!
Your Support Makes a Big Difference
DONATE TO REDEMPTION VOYAGE
20 Million Women Strong (20MWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to 20 Million Women Strong in support of Redemption Voyage 2026. Every bit helps. No amount is too small. Your support is greatly appreciated!