Survival Stories
Human Trafficking is a vicious crime that violates the human rights of its victims. However, over time and with appropriate support, some individuals survive their ordeal and are ready to take action to prevent this crime. In their own words, former victims describe their past experiences and discuss their current roles as anti-trafficking advocates, sharing their hopes for increased survivor engagement.
ASHA'S* JOURNEY: A BEACON OF HOPE FROM PROJECT LIGHT HOUSE
Divya's journey from despair to hope highlights her resilience and the crucial support from Manobal organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating victims of trafficking. Despite the severe challenges she faced, Divya found her way back to safety and was given a chance to rebuild her life.
In a transformative milestone for Project Light House, Manobal has celebrated the first success of this ambitious initiative. While this achievement marks a small beginning, the vision is vast and inspiring. The story of Asha, the project’s first beneficiary, shines as a testament to resilience and hope.
Two years ago, Asha bravely sought Manobal NGO support to escape the confines of a brothel. Recognizing her courage, Manobal immediately extended a helping hand. Over the next two years, Asha received extensive counseling and unwavering support from the Project Light House team, aiming to reintegrate her into mainstream society.
Throughout this period, Manobal provided Asha with the necessary resources and guidance to build a new life. That included financial assistance to start her own business. Today, Asha proudly operates a small momo shop, a modest but significant step towards self-reliance. Her shop not only provides her with a livelihood but also symbolizes her determination to forge a new path. Asha reflects on her journey with a sense of optimism: “My work will progress slowly, but I will keep trying.” Her words capture the essence of Project Light House’s mission – to empower women to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.
The core objective of Project Light House is to support elderly women who have been marginalized and deemed “unusable” in the field of prostitution. Though the the terminology may be harsh, but it starkly reflects the grim the reality faced by many.
Manobal is committed to rescuing and rehabilitating more women like Asha from red-light areas, providing them with the tools and support necessary for a fresh start. With each success story, Project Light House moves closer to its goal of transforming lives and restoring hope.
Manobal remains confident in the potential to uplift more women, guiding them towards brighter futures, one courageous step at a time.
Divya's Journey: A Story of Struggle
With the help of Manobal, Mona emerged from the darkness of prostitution and lodged a complaint with the police. Today, she has returned to her home country, where Rahab Uganda, Manobal's partner organization, has helped her rebuild her life. Mona now runs a small cold drink shop, supporting herself and her children and rejoining mainstream society.
Divya, a resident of Melur in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, faced a tumultuous childhood due to her parents’ separation. Forced to live with her father, Divya’s life became even more challenging when her father remarried. Her stepmother’s behavior towards her was harsh and unkind.
During this difficult time, Divya fell into the trap of alcohol addiction, largely ignored by her parents.
As the days passed, Divya got married, but the situation did not improve. Similar to her childhood home, her new household also pressured her to earn money. Her husband, unfortunately, was also addicted to alcohol, and they were burdened with a car loan that required monthly payments. Overwhelmed by these circumstances, Divya decided to leave her home in search of a job.
One day, as she sat at the bus stop in Melur, a man named Raju approached her. When he asked about her situation, Divya explained that she was looking for a job. Raju offered to take her to Delhi, promising employment opportunities. Desperate and hopeful, Divya agreed to go with him.
Raju first took Divya to Bengaluru, where he arranged an air ticket for her to Delhi. However, the ticket was not in Divya’s real name; instead, it bore a fake name with Divya’s photo inserted into someone else’s Aadhaar card. On July 3rd, Raju and Divya, along with another girl, arrived in Delhi. Raju kept them in a hotel called Palace before taking Divya to GB Road, specifically to quota number 57. There, he sold her to a woman named Sarika.
Divya was unaware of her surroundings and the reality of GB Road. Sarika informed her that she had been bought and now had to work to repay the money. When Divya refused to engage in prostitution, she was beaten and pressured into compliance. For seven long months, Divya endured this nightmare until one day, with the help of the police and Manobal, she was rescued from the brothel.
Post-rescue, Divya was taken to the Shakti Shalini Shelter Home for stabilization and care. Understanding her desire to return to her family, arrangements were made with the help of an NGO named Anamika Tamil Nadu. They worked on obtaining a legitimate Aadhaar card for Divya and organized her travel back to Melur, Tamil Nadu.
Divya’s journey from despair to hope highlights her resilience and the crucial support from Manobal organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating victims of trafficking. Despite the severe challenges she faced, Divya found her way back to safety and was given a chance to rebuild her life.
Mona's life changed
With the help of Manobal, Mona emerged from the darkness of prostitution and lodged a complaint with the police. Today, she has returned to her home country, where Rahab Uganda, Manobal's partner organization, has helped her rebuild her life. Mona now runs a small cold drink shop, supporting herself and her children and rejoining mainstream society.
Mona, a resident of Uganda, was brought to Delhi on July 10, 2022 as a victim of human trafficking. Florence, a single parent from an economically disadvantaged background, faced challenging circumstances at home and sought employment opportunities to support her family and children.
While looking for job prospects in Uganda, she connected with a former school friend online and expressed her need for employment.
Her friend, who was working abroad, suggested a job opportunity in India and provided her with the contact information of a person who claimed to facilitate employment in India. Facing financial constraints, Florence was unable to afford the visa and passport expenses required to travel to India. The facilitator reportedly covered these expenses on Florence’s behalf. However, upon reaching India, her documents were confiscated and she was forced to engage in prostitution on the pretext of repaying a fabricated loan of Rs 3 lakh.
Florence, who initially lived in Delhi’s Uttam Nagar for a few days, was later taken to Noida under the care of a handler, where she was subjected to forced sexual exploitation. To create a false identity, he was provided with a new mobile phone and a fabricated college ID. The transactions were done through online platforms like Paytm and PhonePe. Forced to endure sleep deprivation, mental torture, and threats, Florence lived in constant fear and distress.
Unable to communicate her plight due to language barriers and lack of access to emergency services, Mona desperately searched for a way to escape. Despite her struggles, she managed to reach out to an online friend associated with the Asia Pacific Group for support. Morale was alerted to Florence’s plight on August 11, 2022, prompting a rapid response to arrange her rescue the following day.
The rescue operation, led by Morales, was successful in freeing Mona from its captors. Subsequently, with the assistance of Rahab Uganda, Mona was repatriated to Uganda within 20 days of her rescue.
Jennie
With the help of Manobal, Mona emerged from the darkness of prostitution. Today, she has returned to her home country, where Rahab Uganda, Manobal's partner organization, has helped her rebuild her life. Jenni now doing a job, supporting herself and her children and rejoining mainstream society.
Jennie, a single parent hailing from Uganda, epitomizes resilience and determination as she seeks to provide for her family. Living with her children, including a younger daughter whom she cared for dearly, Jennie navigated the challenges of life with the aspiration of achieving self-reliance.
In her pursuit of employment opportunities, Jennie confided in a friend who introduced her to Junior, a Nigerian acquaintance residing in Zirakpur, Punjab, India. Junior, operating a consultancy firm, offered Juliet a promising sales job in India, assuring to arrange all necessary documentation, including passport, visa, and travel tickets.
Optimistic about the opportunity presented by Junior, Juliet agreed to relocate to India in June 2023. However, upon her arrival, her passport and visa were confiscated under the guise of safekeeping. Jennie was coerced into signing an agreement purportedly for a loan of Rs 5 lakh, under false pretenses. Unbeknownst to her, Junior had orchestrated a sinister scheme, exploiting Juliet’s vulnerability by subjecting her to sex work. Feeling trapped and distressed, Juliet desperately sought assistance, reaching out for help via social media.
On July 17th, 2023, Juliet’s plea for help led to her rescue from Zirakpur, Punjab, where she disclosed the plight of another victim ensnared by Junior’s deceitful tactics. With the collaboration of Punjab Police, Manobal orchestrated the successful rescue of both Jennie and the other victims, providing them with much-needed support and care.
Subsequently, with the assistance of Rehab Uganda, Jennie and her fellow survivors were repatriated to Uganda, marking the end of their harrowing ordeal. This case underscores the insidious nature of human trafficking and the critical importance of collaborative efforts among law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and international organizations in combating this pervasive crime and safeguarding vulnerable individuals like Jennie.
Lily and Naomi
Disheartened by their plight, Lilian and Namugambe sought assistance through Manobal's Facebook page, reaching out for help to escape their dire circumstances.
Lilian and Namugambe, both hailing from Uganda, ventured to India in pursuit of employment opportunities, driven by the dire economic conditions of their families.
Despite their aspirations for a better future, they found themselves ensnared in a web of exploitation and debt bondage. Coerced into sex work against their will, their passports were confiscated by their traffickers, who hailed from Tanzania and Nigeria, respectively. These traffickers, involved in criminal activities, withheld any compensation for their labor, leaving Lilian and Namugambe trapped in a cycle of exploitation and despair.
Disheartened by their plight, Lilian and Namugambe sought assistance through Manobal’s Facebook page, reaching out for help to escape their dire circumstances. In a coordinated effort between Manobal NGO and law enforcement authorities, a rescue operation was conducted on July 26th, providing Lilian and Namugambe with a glimmer of hope amidst their adversity.
With their visas expired, Lilian and Namugambe embarked on the process of obtaining exit permits in FRRO to facilitate their return to Uganda. Efforts are underway to ensure their safe repatriation, marking a pivotal step towards reclaiming their freedom and rebuilding their lives.
This narrative sheds light on the pervasive issue of human trafficking and the exploitation faced by vulnerable individuals like Lilian and Namugambe. Their resilience in seeking assistance underscores the importance of collective action in combating trafficking and providing support to survivors in their journey towards recovery and justice.