Today we’d like to introduce you to Aja Nikiya Estro.
Hi Aja Nikiya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story really began with a deep ache — the kind you feel when you witness unnecessary suffering and can’t look away. I’ve always been drawn to the margins, to the ones whose pain often goes unseen — whether that’s an abandoned animal in the aftermath of a hurricane, a child in an underserved village, or a family who’s lost everything and has nowhere to turn.
Compassion Kind was born from a commitment to ending that suffering — not just reacting to it, but building real systems of care, dignity, and justice for all beings.
What started as small rescue missions quickly evolved. We became first responders during natural disasters, rescuing animals and supporting communities in crisis. We built a foster and adoption network in Tampa Bay and Los Angeles to give vulnerable animals a second chance. And our work expanded internationally with the launch of the Chifundo Clinic in Malawi, where we provide free healthcare to people who would otherwise go without.
At our core, Compassion Kind is about seeing the interconnectedness of all life — and recognizing that to end suffering, we must serve both people and animals, locally and globally, with love and action.
Ending suffering isn’t just a mission statement. It’s a way of being. It’s what guides every deployment, every rescue, every story we help rewrite. We may not be able to fix everything, but we believe every life we touch matters — and we’re here to show up for them, over and over again.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road — and honestly, I don’t think it’s supposed to be.
Doing this kind of work — stepping into suffering, crisis, and chaos — is never easy. There have been moments where I’ve sat in flood zones with no clear plan except to help, where we’ve loaded animals onto boats in the middle of a hurricane, or stood in clinics watching people walk for miles just to receive basic medical care. The need can feel overwhelming, and the resources are never enough.
One of the biggest struggles has been navigating burnout — for myself and for my team. When your work is literally saving lives, it’s hard to rest. It’s hard to say no. There’s this internal pressure to keep going, even when you’re running on empty. Balancing heart work with sustainability has been one of my biggest lessons.
We’ve also faced the usual challenges: limited funding, logistical nightmares, policy red tape, and at times, even resistance from systems that don’t want to change. And then there’s the emotional weight — carrying the grief of the lives we couldn’t save while still showing up for the ones we can.
But every challenge has sharpened our clarity and deepened our commitment. The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been sacred. And I wouldn’t trade it — because the lives we’ve touched, the animals we’ve rescued, and the communities we’ve built make every hard moment worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Compassion Kind, we specialize in crisis response and long-term care for both people and animals. We show up where others often don’t — in the aftermath of hurricanes, in underserved rural communities, at the intersection of environmental disaster, poverty, and neglect. Our work includes animal rescue and rehabilitation, foster and adoption programs, disaster response, and humanitarian aid through projects like our Chifundo Clinic in Malawi, which offers free medical care to those in need.
What sets us apart is our integrated approach — we don’t silo animal welfare from human care or environmental justice. We see all of it as connected. We treat each deployment, each rescue, and each life with the same level of respect, compassion, and urgency. That’s rare in this space.
I think we’re known for our willingness to go all in. We don’t just talk about compassion — we live it. We get in the water. We stay after the cameras leave. We remember names, stories, and faces. We believe in dignity-centered response, where healing isn’t just transactional, but relational and rooted in justice.
What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built — across borders, species, and backgrounds. From the families in Malawi who trust us with their care, to the volunteers who open their homes to foster animals, to the storm survivors who return to help others — we are powered by love in action.
This isn’t charity. It’s solidarity. And that’s what makes our work different.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Nature. Always. I try to get outside and connect with the earth as much as I can. It’s my reset button. I also really love to dance..it frees my mind completely and always me to go to another place.
For books:
Animal Oppression and Human Violence: Domesecration, Capitalism, and Global Conflict by David A. Nibert
The Sexual Politics of Meat by Carol J. Adams
The Dreaded Comparison: Human and Animal Slavery by Marjorie Spiegel
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.compassionkind.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/compassionkind
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/compassi0onkindfoundation
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaestro/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AjaNikiya
- Other: https://ajanikiya.com
