By Srna Ignjatovic | SOS Consultant
Reintegration is one of the most important aspects of assistance to trafficked persons. After they leave the situation of exploitation and go through recovery process, which is hard, complex and might last for years, survivors of human trafficking, just like anyone else, want to be recognized for their personal and professional contributions, to be valuable and respected members of their community. A key part of recovery and reintegration process is economic empowerment – supporting survivors at realizing their economic potential, by finding a job or continuing education.
Unfortunately, most stories of survivors of human trafficking do not end in such a way that would bring them a sense of justice, and the cases of our beneficiaries who attain a job as a symbol of emancipation are extremely rare.
Recently, a woman whom ASTRA is assisting for four years now called to tell us that she finally found a job that matches her education, she was hired as a nurse in the local hospital! These were extraordinary news, and we knew how much hard work, together with the appropriate support system, was needed to make her goal a reality. This client contacted ASTRA in 2015, after escaping from Bosnia where she was sexually exploited. Being a single mom, in a very difficult financial situation, and experiencing many health problems, she was trying to find an employment for years, but she was either rejected due to her age and lack of experience or accepted temporary jobs in order to earn just enough money to live on. Over the years, ASTRA has provided her with continuous medical and psychological care, and recovery process was long and difficult, with many ups and downs. A year after contacting us, she expressed the wish to become a medical technician and ASTRA team has provided her with financial and other forms of support necessary to continue education. She successfully graduated from secondary medical school, passed the state exam and obtained a license, while at the same time being the sole provider for her family.
For her, as for many other people with trafficking experience, finding an employment or some other form of generating income, was the primary focus, both immediately after exiting a trafficking situation and as part of long-term reintegration process. It not only means survival and financial stability, but also reduces their vulnerability and the chance to repeat the cycle of exploitation. For her, the prospect of doing a job she loves, helping other people, is what gave her the motivation to deal with everyday problems, as well as to bravely face consequences that severe traumatic experience of trafficking had left on her.
ASTRA strongly believes that the most concrete way for survivors to reclaim their dignity and to thrive is to become financially independent. If you share our opinion, please donate and support us in our efforts to empower them, so they could, by relying on their own capacities and strenght, find an attainable path to safe employment.
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