By Isabelle Bryan | Project Lead
During this global COVID-19 pandemic we are committed to continuing to deliver specialized support to young girls who are victims of sex trafficking and modern slavery at our Lighthouse in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. During full lockdown we have worked to follow government guidance and safety measures to protect the health and wellbeing of each child. Each girl is given care tailored to their specific needs.
Our most recent arrival at the Lighthouse was Chaya*.
Chaya is only eight years old and was rescued from sexual exploitation. The first thing Chaya asked when she came to the Lighthouse in Phnom Penh was “Is there school here?”
The case manager at the Lighthouse said this “This little girl has been exploited in unimaginable ways. Her vulnerability was abused by her mother, who forced her to perform sexual acts on adults. This exploitation contained for more than one year.
“It is difficult to imagine how any parent can do this. But desperation and the grip of a drug addiction were the backdrop to this mother’s decision to exploit her own daughter…
“When Chaya first arrived at the Lighthouse, I remember her bright eyes and huge smile as she enquired about an opportunity to learn. It amazes me how children like Chaya are able to remain so engaged and hopeful after everything they have been through. Her resilience is astounding.”
Chaya now has the care and support that she was deprived of for so long. She is now safe, with shelter and protection, regular food, clean clothes, a shower and a bed.
She now has the chance to take part in school lessons, to play, to learn, to develop friendships with the other children – the chance to be a child again.
For more stories like Chaya visit https://hopeforjustice.org/news/category/news/
*name and photo changed to protect identity of the victim.
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