By Erica Stone | President
Anju’s childhood had all the hallmarks of a potential trafficking victim. She was born into poverty, orphaned at age four. Passed among relatives obligated to be her caretakers, she was overwhelmed with household chores, and never had a home she could call her own.
When SGT found her, Anju was living with her uncle and was only able to stay in school with of SGT’s support. Tragically, her uncle, the man she thought of as her father, died, and his family began to torture her by constantly asking her to leave their house. She finally did and moved into her older sister’s small rented room, but at least she could continue her education.
It was at school that she discovered Taekwondo. One day, a Korean Taekwondo group came to give a demonstration and she knew immediately she wanted to learn it. The confidence that she would be safe in school because of SGT gave her the courage to try something she could call her own. By the time Anju completed 10th grade, she had earned her black belt.
Last winter, Anju’s instructor Sunil Singh Thakur helped her participate at an International Taekwondo Championship in India – and she won the Gold Medal! She is also the first member of her family to reach 12th grade. Now, she is a powerful role model for other SGT students and an emerging national star athlete.
Anju's incredible story speaks to her determination to reach her full potential against all odds – and to your kindness, which gives the 12,000 girls in STOP Girl Trafficking the opportunity to stay safe, keep learning, and dream big. We are all deeply grateful.
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