Rescue trafficked women & children in India

Dear friend,

Mother Teresa once said, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.” 

Because of your gift, children who once lived in India's red-light districts no longer live in a dangerous and unsafe environment. These kids are safe and sound and are living in a safe house thanks to you. The children are loved, welcomed and cared for by wonderful house parents and they receive nutritious meals every day.

Many of the kids grow up in abusive situations because their mothers work in the sex trade. They were often neglected and uncared for, but today I'm happy to report that the children and women you helped are thriving and succeeding because of your generosity. 230 women and 150 children residing in red light communities were served through various medical clinics, drop-in centers, counseling sessions, education centers, and so much more.

Sangeeta was one child who benefited from your amazing gift. She used to roam the streets and was often known for being mischievous and stubborn. Because no one at home really cared for her, she acted out and always misbehaved. One day Sangeeta joined our education center in the red-light district. We gave her extra attention and helped her catch up in her studies. We saw past the facade of disobedience and stubbornness and gave her a chance to succeed and pursue her academics. Today she is a confident and sweet girl who is excelling in school.

Thank you for your compassion and generosity. You are helping poor women and children thrive.

Human trafficking in India is a growing epidemic in our country. According to the Global Slavery Index, 2016 there are 6 victims for every thousand people, and the number is growing. The crime of human trafficking is heinous and the stories are a gut-wrenching portrait of horror. One such story is of our beneficiary Payal*. 

“Life has only offered me betrayal, betrayal at its worst! It was my mother who sold me to my abusers”- says a 26-year-old Payal, who was sold into the trade at the tender age of 17. Nine harsh years in the trade made Payal a bitter woman. During their visit, our field staff came across an impolite, disheveled Payal who refused to acknowledge their friendly approach.

Then during one of the field visits, the staff discovered that Payal’s daughter needed medical help for a head injury. They were successful in building a relationship with Payal as she began to open up and talk about her struggles. She was counseled and started to benefit from the counsel as she overcame her drinking problem, started maintaining her finances and cared for herself and her children’s health. She is now a regular attendee to a drop-in clinic, benefitting from the Hepatitis B vaccination, skin camp, and other value and community building activities. She also successfully completed the cooking course taught at the center.

Payal harbored deep anger against her mother (a commercial sex worker herself), as she forced her into the trade. To add to this, she was abandoned by her husband after two years of marriage. Payal did not want history to repeat itself and desired a safe future for her children. It was this desire that gave her the courage to ask our staff to help her relocate and start life afresh.

Thanks to your generosity, our staff in the red-light districts of India are able to make connections with Payal. Today, Payal drops her children off at school and joins the thousands who commute to work every day as she heads to a training center, learning a skill that will one day provide her employment. Her life and the lives of her children have transformed because of people like you!

*Name and photo changed to protect identity.

Dear Friend,

In India, many young girls from poor villages make decisions to escape the extreme poverty they grew up in. Rashmi was one of these girls. She was born in a small village outside of Mumbai, India and lived with her aunt and uncle. Her life was filled with abuse, neglect, child labor, and hunger. Rashmi needed to escape and she dreamed of running away.

When she finally got a chance to leave her family behind, Rashmi went with a woman who promised her a good job in Mumbai. Little did Rashmi know, she was being sold into the red-light district. She was kept in a brothel and endured terrifying sexual abuse that was worse than the abuse she was trying to escape.

When our staff met Rashmi she was suffering from a skin ailment. We took her to our medical clinic and gave her treatment for her skin problems. Over time we started to build a friendship with Rashmi and counsel her in her ongoing struggles.

One day, Rashmi came to us with a desire to leave the sex trade. She was scared and didn't know what to do. Our team of counselors assured Rashmi we could help her get out. Good news! Rashmi was able to leave the trade and experience freedom! She was enrolled in a re-integration program and in the past six months has been learning English and other life skills.

Rashmi is free today because of your compassion and generosity. Thank you so much for your help to rescue women and children in the red-light districts. 

Sincerely,

John Sparks

P.S. With Mother's Day coming up in a few days, now is your chance to give a life-changing present to that special mom in you life. When you give today and Rescue trafficked women in India, you will save another mom in India and provide her with hope for a brighter future! Thank you!

When women and girls are trafficked, they are often brought far from home. This is disorienting and hinders their ability to escape the trade. 

Ramya* was found lost and confused on a railway platform a few years ago. After being placed in the safe house, she struggled to communicate, as she is both speech and hearing impaired. Her inability to explain her story frustrated her, sometimes to the point of self-harm. 

Our counselors would simply sit and spend time with Ramya. They discovered she was a very talented artist. She used paper and paint to explain her pain when words failed. 

Ramya has lived in the safe house for almost three years. Many attempts were made to find where she orginally came from, so that she may return home. Eventually, the counselors took Ramya to a special educator for the speech and hearing impaired. After hours of conversation with the special educator, Ramya was able to communicate enough details that we now know where she came from! Now we are working out the details to return her to her family.

It takes much time and resources for stories like Ramya's to have happy endings. If it weren't for your generosity, it wouldn't happen. Thank you for providing hope and healing!

*Name changed for security

Your support has rescued a woman from tragedy!

When Khushi* was only 20 years old, her husband abandoned her, forcing her to fend for herself. A friend convinced her to move to the city, promising a lucrative job and easier life. Little did Khushi know, she was being sold into the sex trade. 

As the years went by, Khushi's struggles increased. When our staff met her, she was a very angry woman, fighting with others in the area and would even get chased out of brothels. 

But because of your generosity, Khushi joined a program that helps women from the red-light area have access to various vocational training programs, community building activities that imparts value and access to healthcare. The women receive counselling and assistance with an alternative livelihood that enables them to live their lives in freedom from the slavery they are trapped in. 

After lots of hard work, Khushi started responding to the counselling and made the choices to better her life. Now, she has exited the trade! She has a better relationship with her child and all those around her. She has a wonderful job as a salesman for a health and wellness company.

Transformation stories like Khushi's would not be possible without your generosity. Your support allows the necessary programs to exist in order for women to empower themselves out of slavery. Thank you!

*Name and photo changed for safety