For the past five years, Edwige Gilbert, originally from the French Riviera, a Life management expert and author of Victim to Victorious: A Fresh Start in 28 Days, has been an invaluable ally to MoviesMakingADifference.org (MMAD). When MMAD saves lives, Edwige helps the survivors make a fresh start. Her dedication, compassion, and life-changing techniques have helped survivors of some of the most devastating experiences—human trafficking, child labor, child marriage, and spiritual abuse—find a way back to themselves.
Edwige’s work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: that every person, no matter their past, has the ability to create a new beginning. Through her coaching and guidance, she offers survivors practical tools to manage stress, release unproductive habits, and rebuild their sense of self. The survivors she works with are not just learning to heal but they are rediscovering their self-esteem and regaining the confidence to step forward into brighter futures. Edwige’s message is aligned with the mission of the organization.
Dedicated to the survivors themselves, the book is more than words on a page—it is a lifeline, offering a 28-day path to transformation, not only to the survivors, but to all of us needing to find a path to Joie de Vivre, the joy of living. In a remarkable act of generosity, Edwige donates 100% of the proceeds from book sales to support MMAD’s mission, ensuring that every purchase directly fuels the fight against human trafficking and the journey toward recovery for survivors
Quote from a survivor of human trafficking “. I feel so grateful to Edwige who helped me deal with the challenge of starting a new life outside of the cult. She was able to show me how to deal with my post-traumatic stress disorder, which was affecting my work, my health, my sleep and my ability to imagine myself victorious in my future. Now, reunited with my wife and children, I feel confident and ready to claim my victory.”
“ I don’t know what I would have done without Edwige. Our young people have no experience in the outside world let along the healing that they need. Edwige is not just a therapist donating weekly sessions. She is there at any hour of the day when she gets survivors calls to walk them off the ledge. She is able to gain their trust and confidence like very few are able to do.
She instinctively knows how to construct suggestions for people to put their problems into perspective and tackle difficulties that after speaking with her, no longer seem so difficult. If you aren’t able to get an appointment with Edwige, I highly recommend reading her wonderful book.” – Diana Davis, Founder of MoviesMakingADifference/Human Trafficking Advocate.
The journey my wife Natasha and I have taken with Edwige, has been nothing short of life-changing. Edwige worked with us to shed years of negative and immature relational patterns that were the norm in our very strict religious community, where our relationship was once defined by conflict and assuming the worst. Now, we are so grateful that we understand how to have peace, mutual respect, and mature communication. Working with Edwige has been transformative on a personal level, too. Thanks to her guidance on healthy eating, I was able to lose 80 pounds in a few short months, going from being pre-diabetic to feeling strong and well every single day. This increased health has doubled my energy and ability to accomplish things, both at home and at work. Today we can honestly say that we are a happy loving family with two beautiful children. We both have jobs, we are connected, and we genuinely enjoy life. We have come a very long way, and we owe so much to the compassionate, insightful, and challenging work of Edwige at New Life Directions.
Testimonial from Noland Black: a survivor of the FLDS(Fundamentalist latter-day saints)
