FAQs
GENERAL INFORMATION
WHAT IS THE SORORITY?
Explanation in 60 sec
WHAT IS THE SORORITY?
Explanation in 60 sec
WHAT IS THE SORORITY?
Explanation in 60 sec
WHAT IS THE SORORITY?
Explanation in 60 sec
CONCRETE FEEDBACK FROM THE FIELD
Report and testimonials on THE SORORITY actions
WHY MAKE A SELFIE AND GIVE AN ID?
And then what happens to them?
HOW DO I COMPLETE MY PROFILE?
WHAT IS THE POINT OF COMPLETING YOUR PROFILE?
What is the point of providing my telephone number?
HOW DOES THE SORORITY HELP WITH CHEMICAL SUBMISSIONS?
What do I do ?
WHAT ARE THE TRAININGS FOR?
What is the point of providing my phone number?
HOW DOES THE SORORITY HELP WITH CHEMICAL SUBMISSIONS?
What do I do ?
THE MAP
Classic profile
Profile offering a safe place to take refuge as quickly as possible
Profile that issued the alert in the last 48 hours
Welcoming and helping association that has joined our community
Safe place (business, restaurant, night establishment) having joined our community
ALERT
I RECEIVED AN ALERT – WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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Contact the person immediately:
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By phone (the fastest, most efficient, and reassuring way – make sure your number is entered correctly).
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By chat, email, or via social media (if links are provided in their profile).
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Ask if they are safe and gather as much information as possible about the situation.
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Ask if they want you to call the authorities for them (exact address, building access code, floor, if weapons are involved, if children are present, etc.).
⚠️ Above all: never put yourself in danger and never go alone.
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If they agree: contact the authorities, giving them precise details to help them act quickly.
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If the person is nearby (street corner, neighbor, etc.): gather others around you and approach together. The goal is to act immediately, before violence escalates.
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Approach and create contact: say their first name, talk about something else, act naturally to break the aggressor’s focus.
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This creates an “effect of astonishment” for the aggressor, who wasn’t expecting intervention. It can stop the aggression quickly.
👉 Find all the information here : https://www.jointhesorority.com/reponses-rapides-alerte-recue?lang=en
THE PERSON DOESN’T RESPOND – WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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Reach out to others nearby to see if they received feedback.
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Keep sending messages regularly, even days later, to check in.
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You can geolocate the person for up to 48 hours after their alert, if needed, to share details with authorities.
WHAT IS THE “STUNNING EFFECT”?
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It’s the freeze response when facing unexpected violence or threat.
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Victims or witnesses may be unable to move, speak, or react – it’s the brain’s survival mechanism.
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Don’t blame yourself if you didn’t react as you wanted. Your brain protected you.
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Training helps reduce this freeze response, so you can act faster in real danger.
WHAT IS THE “WITNESS EFFECT”?
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Studies show: the more witnesses, the less likely anyone acts, thinking others will do it.
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But if just one person steps forward, others usually follow, and the aggression can stop quickly.
HOW DO I KNOW AN ALERT IS LAUNCHED?
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You’ll receive a notification with a loud alarm, inviting you to geolocate and contact the person.
I RECEIVED AN ALERT BUT SAW IT TOO LATE – IS IT SERIOUS?
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No. Alerts are sent to the first 50 people nearby. Responsibility is shared.
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On average, 10 people respond in the first minute (3 to 4 by phone, the rest by chat).
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We act together as a community – no one is ever alone.
WHEN TO TRIGGER AN ALERT?
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In cases of immediate danger or threat, before violence occurs.
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Abuse of alerts is not tolerated: proven misuse may lead to exclusion.
DOES THE APP WORK WITHOUT INTERNET?
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No. Without internet, the app cannot geolocate you or send/receive alerts.
I SENT AN ALERT BY MISTAKE – WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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Don’t worry, it happens.
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To stop: press the red alert button for 2 seconds (it returns to normal colors).
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Always respond to people who reached out and thank them. Remind them you’ll be there for them too.
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You remain contactable/geolocatable for 48h in case the aggressor tried to stop the alert.
👉 Find all the information here : https://www.jointhesorority.com/reponses-rapides-alerte-lancee?lang=en
THE PERSON IS TOO FAR FROM ME – WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Even from a distance, you can:
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Call, chat, or message them.
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Gather details and ask if they want you to call authorities.
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Keep the link, check in regularly, and ensure follow-up.
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Always act safely, never alone – act together.
I RECEIVED AN ALERT VERY FAR AWAY – IS THIS NORMAL?
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Yes. The app uses your last GPS location.
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Open the app once after long trips to update your position.
I CAN’T SEE THE PERSON ON THE MAP – WHY?
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Click the notification to open the map centered on them.
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If alert is active: profile in red.
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If alert stopped: profile returns to normal (green = classic, pink = safe place).
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Often it’s just new users testing. Stay kind, check in, and guide them.
WHAT IS MY “ALERT BEAM” FOR?
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It shows how many community members are around you.
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Regardless, alerts always go to the first 50 people nearby, without distance limit.
👉 Together we act. Together we protect.
SAFE PLACE
WHAT DOES THE PINK HAIR ON THE MAP MEAN?
Profiles with pink hair indicate people offering a safe place to escape (this can be set in your profile).
Profiles in green are regular users.
HOW CAN I FIND A SAFE PLACE?
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Open your map (top right). You can contact people with pink hair and ask if they are available to provide a sofa, a room, or a whole accommodation for a few hours or days.
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You can also search directly using SEARCH (magnifying glass at the bottom) and select “I’m looking for a safe place.” Those offering a safe place nearby will appear by geographic proximity.
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The goal is to get you to safety as quickly as possible in case of immediate danger (domestic violence, intra-family violence, etc.) before it’s too late.
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Safe places are not a substitute for emergency shelters – they are temporary (a few hours/nights) to allow you time to find longer-term solutions.
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Share all relevant information with the host: whether you are alone, with children, with pets, how long you need to stay, etc.
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Never share the host’s details with the person who attacked you. It’s about their safety too.
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Contact the authorities if you can, to inform them and start official steps.
AS AN ASSOCIATION, HOW DO WE USE THE APP TO FIND SAFE PLACES FOR PEOPLE WE HELP?
A specific poster for associations explains how to use the app to find safe places quickly.
You can download it on our website: www.jointhesorority.com (main page, community page, or support page).
HOW CAN I PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE?
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In your profile (top left), click Edit Profile and check the box “I offer a safe place.”
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By becoming a safe place, you can occasionally offer support to help someone get to safety — to have a glass of water, contact their loved ones, the authorities, or a partner organization. You enable them to receive quick and appropriate assistance.
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For general support: check national useful numbers on the alert screen of THE app
A MINOR ASKED ME FOR SHELTER – IS IT LEGAL?
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If a minor asks for shelter, you must inform the local authorities immediately
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You may provide temporary shelter in an emergency but contact the authorities right away to ensure proper care.
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Useful number: National Child Protection Hotline
👉 Safe places exist to protect immediately, prevent escalation, and give victims time to find lasting safety.
SECURITY
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SELFIE AND IDENTITY PROVIDED AT REGISTRATION?
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As shown in the video above: all documents are immediately and permanently deleted from our databases after profile validation or refusal.
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Nothing is stored — for your security and ours (GDPR compliance).
HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT PEOPLE REGISTERING ARE NOT MALICIOUS?
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The app is currently dedicated to women and gender minorities to prevent violent spouses, ex-partners, or harassers from entering the community.
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Registration requires:
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A real-time selfie (no upload possible).
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An identity document.
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These are manually checked by moderators before approval or refusal.
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Documents are permanently deleted once moderation is completed (GDPR best practices).
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For gender minorities: you can contact our partner association Transaide (contact@transaide.org) for support or to complete your authentication.
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If in doubt: people may be asked to continue their authentication via our social networks.
Any malicious behavior must be reported immediately (via the app chat or by email: contact@jointhesorority.com). The profile will be banned without delay.
The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority.
CAN YOU TRACK ME? IS IT SECURE?
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The app stops tracking your location as soon as it is closed. (This is why you should open it at least once after long trips to update your position.)
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When open, geolocation is precise to just a few meters — you appear only as a moving point on the map.
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You choose what information to share (name, photo, etc.). All fields are editable except email (for security, email changes require a request to contact@jointhesorority.com).
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Emails are never searchable in the app.
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With hundreds of thousands of users, points are constantly moving, making it nearly impossible to follow someone even if a malicious profile managed to enter.
To date, no stalking cases have been reported. If it happens, the profile will be immediately deactivated.
I AM A PERSON FROM A GENDER MINORITY – HOW DOES MODERATION WORK?
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When registering, select your gender as “Gender Minority.”
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Fill in the details you wish to share (even if they differ from your ID).
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Moderation is done manually — never by robots.
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Stay connected to the email you provided.
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You will receive an email to continue your authentication.
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To speed things up, you can also contact Transaide directly:
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@associationtransaide
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The process takes place in a respectful and supportive environment.
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Trained volunteer teams listen, verify, and ensure safe access into the protected space.
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Why this process?
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To block violent partners, ex-partners, or stalkers from entering and targeting members.
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Over 1 million profiles have already been reviewed.
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Thousands of people benefit safely from our mutual aid worldwide.
If your profile is still under moderation or was deleted because documents weren’t received in time: contact Transaide to restart your registration safely.
TOGETHER
We act for everyone.
To protect each other.
Voluntarily, freely.
Anywhere, anytime. Together.
ACCESSIBLE FROM 12 YEARS OLD
IS THE APPLICATION OPEN TO CHILDREN UNDER 15?
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Yes. Since September 2022, the application has been officially open to young people from the age of 12, in line with the legal age of digital majority.
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A dedicated module has been developed to collect, verify, and securely store parental/guardian authorization.
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This extension allows us to better support and protect the youngest users who may face (cyber)harassment, domestic violence, inappropriate touching, or isolation.
This development was made possible thanks to the Oui Care solidarity fund.
CIS MEN
CAN I ENJOY THIS SECURITY AS A MAN?
Yes — we can now officially support men facing violence.
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Please make sure to update your application to access the latest features.
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For women and gender minorities: a new “Sponsorship” tab will appear in your menu. Please read the information provided there carefully.
To help and support as many people as possible, we have created a parallel, secure, and dedicated access for men who:
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face violence (homophobia, domestic violence, intra-family violence, aggression), and/or
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wish to contribute to helping others.
IMPORTANT NOTE
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The non-mixed space remains unchanged.
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Men will never see the current community map.
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They will support one another and benefit from mutual aid within their dedicated space, alongside partner associations and authorities.
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Interactions between the two communities will only happen in case of an alert, and only with the agreement of the person concerned.
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In your profile settings, you can choose whether or not you wish to receive or provide help in dangerous situations.
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Alerts are always sent to the first 50 people nearby. Depending on your choice, men in the parallel space may or may not be included.
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Access for men requires 3 single-use sponsorship codes.
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These codes can only be provided by women or gender minorities in the community.
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Each member can generate 1 code every 15 days.
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Sponsors are linked to the sponsored man’s account — in case of malicious behavior, both his account and his sponsors’ accounts will be banned.
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If you wish to remain fully non-mixed: no action is needed. This setting is automatically enabled by default.
The safety of all remains, and will remain, our top priority.
Let’s take care of ourselves. Together.
GPS
DOES THE APPLICATION NEED TO STAY OPEN TO WORK?
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No. You can close it at any time and you will still receive alerts around you.
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However, remember to reopen the app when making a long journey, so your position is updated in case an alert is triggered nearby.
MY GPS USES TOO MUCH BATTERY
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You can close the application to save battery. You will still receive alerts.
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Just reopen it after a long trip to make sure you are geolocated correctly.
DOES THE APP WORK WHEN CLOSED?
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Yes. Alerts are received even if the app is closed.
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But the app will only use your last GPS position when it was closed.
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Manufacturers block GPS tracking when apps are not active.
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Some phone models allow you to override this and force GPS tracking, but this requires manual setup.
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👉 So always reopen the app after long journeys to be positioned in the right area and receive the most relevant alerts.
DOES THE APP TRACK ME AFTER I CLOSE IT?
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No. The app never tracks you in real time once it’s closed.
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If an alert is launched near you, your location will be taken from the last time you had the app open.
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To help effectively, reopen the app at least once when changing regions or traveling long distances.
NOTIFICATIONS
I HAVE AN ANDROID AND I DO NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS
This issue is linked to battery optimization on Android devices (affecting many apps).
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📄 Follow the instructions in this guide for your phone:
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If needed: uninstall the app and download it again.
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On the first screens, make sure to click “Allow notifications.”
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If the issue persists, contact us at: contact@jointhesorority.com
I HAVE AN IPHONE AND I DO NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS
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Make sure you have updated both your app and your operating system.
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If needed: uninstall the app and download it again.
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On the first screens, make sure to click “Allow notifications.”
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If the issue persists, contact us at: contact@jointhesorority.com
NEXT STEPS
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN THE APPLICATION?
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Integration of partner associations within the community, to quickly identify those closest to you, their specialties, and their contact details — making it easier to access the right help and support.
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Integration of safe places, where you can immediately get to safety, take a break, and contact the authorities, loved ones, or partner associations.
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Strengthening recognition by local authorities worldwide for the actions carried out within the community.
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Expanding partnerships with field actors wishing to engage alongside us: municipalities, institutions, companies, and private partners.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVISAGED?
Yes. We have already initiated discussions with the police. An agreement is currently under review by the Ministry of the Interior.
We are now awaiting official feedback in order to move forward and strengthen our ability to provide help, together.
FIELD RETURNS
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU HELPED TO DATE?
We do not have an exact number, because help can take many different forms:
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Direct intervention during an attack, when a person raised an alert and received support.
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Providing help by contacting a person directly through the map or Search, without launching an alert, via chat or call.
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Offering a feeling of safety simply by opening the map and realizing that one is not alone.
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Participating in training sessions and seeing the speed of action and response from the community.
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Creating connections beyond attacks or direct violence, particularly through Search, to find contacts, expertise, and support on multiple topics — helping people move forward in their daily life and efforts.
We receive testimonies every day, many of which we regularly share on our social networks:
Instagram · Facebook · TikTok · LinkedIn → @jointhesorority
You can also consult:
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The results of our trainings: www.jointhesorority.com
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Media coverage and articles about our actions (sometimes with testimonials): www.jointhesorority.com
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Reviews and feedback available on app stores (Android & iOS)
For more detailed information: Impact Study 2025
TRAININGS
WHAT ARE THE TRAININGS FOR? WHY TRAIN?
The objectives are to:
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Develop good reflexes (geolocate, make contact, gather key information, contact the authorities if requested, etc.).
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Reduce the stunning effect experienced as a witness and/or victim of violence.
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Realize that no one is ever alone.
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Observe how quickly people nearby respond in a situation of alert or immediate danger.
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Allow us, on our side, to constantly verify that everything is working properly and identify areas for improvement.
HOW DOES A TRAINING TAKE PLACE? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
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Instructions are sent on Saturday for a training session on Sunday.
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Average duration: 10 minutes.
Steps:
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Update your app and, if possible, provide your phone number.
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Launch the alert, wait for first contact, then stop it.
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Respond to people who reached out, explain it was a training, thank them, and reassure them.
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Send us your feedback via the app (how it went, how you felt, ideas, suggestions, or bugs).
On average, one alert triggers about 10 contacts in the first minutes (¾ by phone calls, the rest via chat).
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRAINING?
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At the start of the week, an email is sent to invite people to register.
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Participants reply with:
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The city they will be in on the training day.
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Their nickname.
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A time between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. when they will launch the alert.
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WHEN AND HOW OFTEN ARE THE TRAININGS HELD?
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Usually once a month, on a Sunday, between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. (local time).
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Duration: about 10 minutes.
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Our goal is to maintain a rhythm of one training per month, so everyone can regularly practice, strengthen reflexes, and reduce the stunning effect.
IS TRAINING TARGETED TO ANY AREA?
Yes. Trainings are organized simultaneously worldwide, between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time.
I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, WILL IT WORK?
Yes. Trainings work everywhere, in big cities and in rural areas.
Alerts are always sent to the first 50 people around you, without geographical limitation.
DO I NEED TO TRAVEL TO PARTICIPATE?
No. Everything takes place directly in the app.
CAN I PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF MY PERSONAL SITUATION?
Yes. Whatever your situation or abilities, you are welcome to participate. Everyone moves at their own pace.
WHAT IS THE “STUNNING EFFECT”?
The stunning effect is the freeze response in a stressful or violent situation.
Victims or witnesses may be unable to act, speak, or remember — it’s the brain’s survival mechanism.
It is not your fault. Your brain protected you at that moment.
Trainings simulate this effect to gradually reduce its impact, so that you can act faster in real danger.
HOW DO I REACT TO AN ALERT RECEIVED DURING TRAINING?
Exactly as you would in a real situation.
This is the opportunity to practice and strengthen your reflexes.
HOW AM I INFORMED OF THE NEXT TRAININGS?
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Communications are sent at the beginning of the week: by email, on social networks, and via in-app notifications.
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Reminders: the day before and at 1 p.m. local time on the day of training.
If you don’t receive emails:
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Check your spam/promotions.
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If you unsubscribed, write to us at contact@jointhesorority.com to reactivate.
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If not unsubscribed but still no emails, contact us to investigate.
I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ALERTS DURING TRAINING
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Alerts are sent to the first 50 people around the person.
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In big cities, if there are many users, it is possible you were not among the 50 notified.
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If you want to practice receiving alerts: ask someone you know (who participated before) to launch one so you can test.
CAN I SEND AUTOMATIC REPLIES DURING TRAINING?
No. Automatic messages are not enabled, to prevent abusers from stopping alerts and making others think everything is fine.
Each response must be personal to confirm the situation.
WHY AM I STILL RECEIVING MESSAGES AFTER MY ALERT IS STOPPED?
After launching an alert, you remain geolocatable and contactable for 48 hours.
This is to protect you if the attacker stopped the alert.
Always respond to people who contact you, reassure them, and thank them for being there.
IS TRAINING REALLY IMPORTANT?
Yes. Both for those who launch alerts and for those who receive them.
It is essential to be prepared, act effectively, and help as best as possible when it matters most.
We will get there. By joining forces. Together. Everywhere. Now.
#jointhesorority
EVERYTHING THAT IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO YOU
