We caught up with the brilliant and insightful AjaNikiya Estro a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi AjaNikiya, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Seven years ago I was chasing the American dream, making all the money and climbing the corporate ladder. I was also unhappy, uncomfortable in my own skin, wearing clothes I never liked and doing my hair and makeup everyday to appeal to my office environment and clientele. On the weekends I would volunteer at local rescue facilities and foster animals but it just wasn’t enough. I wanted to be doing what I loved 24/7. SO in 2014, I made the jump. I left corporate with a lucrative offer on the table and headed to Africa for four months. I have never looked back.

I am now living my passion and loving every minute of it. Despite my pooped on clothing, just stepped out of the Jungle appearance, scrapes and bites, lack of amenities and sleep, I have never been happier. Live your passion, love your life and be true to yourself. Take my story and use it for your motivation to make the jump if that’s what your heart desires. I promise you it will be difficult. I promise people will doubt you. But I also promise that you will experience a sense of happiness and fulfillment you have never felt before. You can do and be anything.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Compassion Kind is dedicated to promoting a more conscious culture through compassionate actions to end the suffering of all beings. We want to create a paradigm shift that elevates human consciousness and strengthens the human-animal bond. People helping animals and animals helping people. We do this through animal rescue, global advocacy, disaster relief and vulnerable community projects. We believe compassion is a catalyst for change and the way forward.

We believe all beings deserve to live a life free from harm, a life where their basic needs are met and they do not suffer at the hands of mankind. We rescue animals all over the world that are in need, from puppy mills to disasters, abuse cases and abandonment. We show them compassion and kindness, rehabilitate them and find them homes or rehabilitation centers if needed. We primarily work with domestic animals in our rescue efforts but we do educate communities on the welfare of all animals, domestic and wild. Through our foster, TNR, rehoming and adoption programs, animals from the U.S. and Caribbean get a second chance at life.

When a natural disaster or man-made disaster strikes, Compassion Kind sends a team in to assess the situation and see how we can best help. From supply drops to shelter aid, special needs assistance and animal rescues, we are there to assist. We focus on the most devastated and vulnerable populations in a disaster situation, where help is needed most but not always administered. Our team conducts a needs assessment, connects with partner organizations and prepares an emergency plan to assist the people and animals in need. Our team includes human and animal doctors, crisis and disaster relief specialists, sustainability experts and dedicated volunteers.

We believe in the power of communities to create lasting change from within. We focus on compassionate projects that impact vulnerable communities of people and animals around the globe. We focus our efforts on the following global issues including refugee aid, animal welfare, human-wildlife conflict, poverty alleviation, gender equality, climate change and education. Our projects are varied but share one central theme; compassion. It is the root of all of our work and the driving force behind our organization. We encourage local leaders and community members to take charge and feel empowered to make a difference. We provide training and support for their projects so that they can be sustained within the communities. We look for solutions that improve the human to human and human to animal bond, breaking the cycle of conflict between all kind.

Compassion is an awareness of others’ suffering combined with a willingness to take action to relieve the suffering. To empathize, we must first be aware of the suffering. Compassion Kind uses global awareness campaigns to ignite compassion in global citizens and inspire them to take action. We focus on the most pressing animal welfare and human rights issues around the globe. Education is a powerful tool for transformation. With it, we can create a more humane and sustainable world. At Compassion Kind we empower people to develop solutions that are conscious and sustainable for people, animals and environment. We work with schools to include humane education in their curriculum and activities. Our programs include Conservation Clubs, tree nursery and farm animal care demonstrations and the promotion of progressive, environmentally aware education.

We envision a world with less suffering and more compassion; a conscious culture that extends its circle of compassion to all kinds regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religion or species.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met Kim Mniece, our Vice President through a contact on Facebook actually! He introduced us because I was interested in making a documentary about Hurricane Maria. We met for coffee and really connected over our passions. From there we produced our first film together, Linchpins of Dead Dog Island which went on to win eight awards! After the film wrapped, Kim asked me if I could use some help with the foundation and of course I said yes! We started off with simple tasks and within a few months she was fully onboard! She is now our Vice President and an integral part of Compassion Kind.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience is a key component of rescue work. We see a lot of suffering each day. It is overwhelming and frustrating. You often feel alone. Feeling responsible for the lives of other beings is no easy task. Though we face challenges each day, nothing tests your resilience like working in a disaster zone. Hurricane Maria really shaped our foundation, what we were capable as individuals and as a whole. Through each difficulty we face, we learn more about our strengths and weaknesses. We continue to improve and become even more resilient.

Contact Info:

• Website: compassionkind.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/compassionkind
• Facebook: Facebook.com/compassionkindfoundation
• Youtube: Compassion Kind
• Other: tiktok.com/compassionkind

Image Credits
Aja Nikiya Valeria DeJesus