Save runaway girls from human trafficking

Nineteen-year-old Zoya has spent her entire life navigating a system that often felt like it was designed to let her down. As an orphan in Mumbai, she moved between various childcare institutions and shelter homes, never knowing the stability of a family or a place to call her own. Upon turning 18, the support she relied on vanished, leaving her without a path toward independence or a way to earn a living. The years of neglect and lack of guidance meant she struggled to pass her school exams, and in her previous shelter, she faced harassment and profound loneliness.

Last year, Zoya was referred to our partner’s project, Urja Trust. When she arrived, she was deeply distressed and searching for a sense of belonging. The project’s priority was to provide a trauma-informed environment where her basic needs—food, clothing and healthcare—were finally met without question. For the first time, she had the mental space to think about her future rather than just her survival.

Through intensive counselling, Zoya began to work through the long-term effects of neglect and the isolation she had felt for years. Our partner’s project provided career guidance and encouraged her to look beyond her previous academic struggles. They helped her enrol in a hospitality management course at a leading hotel, where she didn't just learn new skills—she excelled.

Zoya has now completed her training and secured a professional placement. After a lifetime of being moved from one institution to another, she is finally charting her own course. She is currently looking for long-term roles in the hospitality industry, supported by a referral for stable housing.

While she builds her career, Zoya still holds onto a deeply personal hope. She remembers a brother who visited her once when she was very young, and she dreams of one day reconnecting with him or finding answers about her parents. With her newfound confidence and the professional skills she gained through our partner's project, Zoya is a determined, stepping into the world with a plan, a purpose and a place to belong.

Thank you for your essential support. Because of you, more women like Zoya can find a place of safety and build a life of choice and freedom.