By Isabelle Bryan | Project Lead
Thank you so much for joining Hope for Justice in this fight against human trafficking. Since November 2019 we have consistently housed an average of 20 girls every month at our Lighthouse providing restorative care to put them on the path to recovery after their trafficking ordeal.
Your support has enabled us to support victims of sex trafficking like Chanlina*, a 14 – year old girl who bravely testified in court against her exploiters.
Chanlina* grew up in a very poor family, who believed lies told by a massage parlor owner that he would give her a good job that would give her enough money to send home.
Instead, she was forced into sexual exploitation, working 11 hours each night, and the owner kept almost all of her earnings. She even needed to pay him if she needed to leave the parlor briefly.
Fortunately she was rescued in a police raid earlier this year and brought immediately to the Hope for Justice Lighthouse, where she received safety, care and support. She was traumatized and struggled with her emotions – she was confused by people willing to help her and care for her, and her instinct was to lash out, swearing and behaving badly.
With intensive trauma-informed therapy, her attitude changed completely. She began joining in with group activities, she is calmer and she agreed to give evidence against the massage parlor owner. We are awaiting the outcome of the case.
Her case worker at the Hope for Justice Lighthouse said: “Her brave decision to engage with the judicial system, to try to get justice for herself and others, shows the change in Chanlina and her new positive thinking and peace of mind. She is ready to change and to accept something new in her life. The input of our staff and careful counselling and therapy allowed her to look afresh at life after her trauma. Now, she wants to study with us and then we hope to return her safely to her family and her community.”
On behalf of Chanlina and all the girls at our Lighthouse ‘Thank you!’
*Name changed to protect victim's identity
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