Gift Freedom to 500 Victims of Sex Trafficking

Save The Children India (STCI) is a nonprofit organization that envisions India as a Child-Friendly Nation. It is committed to preventing the exploitation and all other forms of discrimination against vulnerable women and children, and empowering them to lead a life of dignity, self-respect, and independence.

All routine activities came to a halt in the 2 nd week of March, when owing to a government order, the office as well as the school and all centers across locations were shut down, as a result of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. This pandemic and ensuing lockdown forced businesses to shut, daily wage workers to lose their jobs, and resulted in already vulnerable sections of society being pushed deeper into crisis and economic uncertainty, with most not even having access to basic grocery and hygiene
essentials to get by this pandemic, including young vulnerable women, all victims of trafficking.

The Anti-Human Trafficking programme at STCI has continued its support to vulnerable women and survivors of trafficking. The team has so far ensured that the 72 survivors of trafficking received Direct Cash Transfers (twice) as well as Ration kits, to help sustain them during this pandemic. 55 survivors, who could not be reached with grocery kits, were provided with direct cash transfers as well. The team also worked hard on ensuring continued counselling services were provided to over 300 survivors, residing in shelter homes, through virtual platforms. Realizing the need to skill these survivors so that they can achieve financial independence, an Enterprise Development Training programme was conducted, for 2 weeks. The programme worked on teaching the attendees all about micro-enterprises, and the tools they wouldneed to ensure their enterprise stays afloat and is successful. After 2 weeks of training, counselling, orientation and brewing ideas, the girls were provided with seed money of up to Rs. 50,000, to start a venture of their choice. In addition to this, over 400 vulnerable girls from communities identified in Maharashtra underwent virtual skill training sessions, and post certification, they secured employment in a range of sectors such as BPO, E-Commerce and so on.

In the months to come, through generous support from donors like you, we wish to empower these young survivors of trafficking, and ensure their timely rehabilitation.