Aubrey Kelley
2026 - 2027
Cape Town, South Africa
Sewing Hope: Restoration for Women Survivors
Aubrey Kelly (2026: Cape Town, South Africa) is working with Not I But We in their skills training program for women survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence. She will be assisting teaching sewing classes, while also supporting their social worker in their Flourish Friday program that focuses on holistic healing in a trauma-informed environment.
Hi! I’m Aubrey Kelly, and I recently graduated Belmont with a psychological science major and education minor. I am passionate about working within the intersection of mental health, creative arts, and social work. My time at Belmont has allowed me to grow in my passion for performing arts through the theatre club and my internship at Nashville Children’s Theatre, while also fostering my interest in mental health through engaging in undergraduate research. Belmont’s semester abroad program unlocked my passion for experiencing new cultures and growing in a global mindset which I hope to apply to my future career in social work.
The organization, Not I But We, provides a safe, trauma informed environment for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence who are reintegrating back into society. They provide sewing training and jobs in product creation of items such as purses, clothing items, and beaded jewelry to be sold on their online store. At Not I But We, I will utilize my creative skills in sewing and textile arts as a tool to produce long-lasting economic freedom for female survivors. I will also be assisting with the Flourish Friday program that focuses on giving gender-based violence survivors holistic support through life-skills training, coping strategies, tutoring, counseling, and career coaching.
As someone who enjoys sewing and crocheting as a hobby, I am excited to witness how these skills can be used as a tool for crafting economic freedom and personal agency for survivors of exploitation. I am excited to take you on my journey as I document how creative arts can support mental health and social work, as well as the stories that can be told around the world with every hand-crafted product.
More about me....
Home Town: Nashville, Tennessee
Major(s): Psychological Science