As a survivor of FGM and child marriage and a mother, Jaha believes that continued support can end such practices within a generation and is dedicating her life to making that a reality. This vision led her to start Safe Hands for Girls, a survivor led U.S. based nonprofit organization whose programs create awareness of FGM and other forms of violence against women through education, advocacy and youth-led campaigns. It is working to create a world in which every woman and girl is free from FGM and all forms of gender-based violence, and has the support, knowledge, tools and self-esteem to reach her full potential. 

Jaha’s efforts went global with her goal to end FGM across the world by 2030. In 2018, she was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Medal of Honor. She was recognized as one of the Times 100 most influential people in the world and named “African Youth of The Year.” She was also recognized as “One of the 100 most influential African’s” by New African Magazine along with many other notable accolades. Jaha is an honoree of L’Oréal Paris’ own Women of Worth program, becoming the first member to become a global brand ambassador of the philanthropic program.

Jaha received the Georgia Southwestern State University Outstanding Alumni Visionary Award in March of 2021. To honor her impact on the world and on the University, Room 203 in the Business, History and Political Science Building was named for Jaha Dukureh of as part of the College of Business and Computing in December 2021. The classroom features a wall-length mural made up of pictures paying homage to Jaha, her organization “Safe Hands for Girls”, and her activism which led to the banning of female genital mutilation in The Gambia. She cut the ribbon for her new classroom while on campus to deliver the December 2021 keynote commencement address for which she received a standing ovation.