FREEING YOUNG WOMEN
FROM TRAFFICKING AND
SLAVERY
FREEING YOUNG WOMEN
FROM TRAFFICKING AND
SLAVERY
Girls off the Streets helps ensure that our projects can continue to be effective and to expand their services. It provides an opportunity for individuals and groups to partner with SIMaid in giving vulnerable women and children a new start in life.
SIMaid is an organisation dedicated to delivering aid in to sustainable projects empowering communities to live with dignity and hope - removing threats of child labour, poverty and exploitation.
We believe that all women and girls should have access to health, education and employment resources in a healthy and secure environment.
To mobilise local community churches and other groups to end people-trafficking.
To prevent children from being trafficked.
To provide counselling, medical care, legal support, training and education to girls and young women who have been forced in to prostitution.
To provide a shelter for girls, women, children and pregnant mothers.
My name is Tsondra. I am 15 years old. This is my story.
People often ask me how I ended up on the street. I tell them that it all began when my parents lost me at the market, but that isn’t really what happened. The truth is that I ran away from a house where I was beaten, neglected and abused.
When people asked me how I ended up as a sex worker I tell them that, “it was a lady who made me bad. She took me to different places and showed me what to do.” The lady who taught me how to be a sex worker sleeps in the same area as I do. It is the only way for us to survive so I try to sell sex a lot, at least 6 men per night that pay 100 taka ($1.50) each.
Some people tell me that I should stop. I tried that once after I found out that I had a disease from prostitution but when I tried to stop selling sex, I was beaten and raped. One group of men even threatened to throw me off a bridge if I didn’t have sex with them. I have no other choice. I am trapped.
Name changed to protect identity.
In Bangladesh there are approximately 500,000 children living on the streets due to poverty or abuse. Many girls who live on the street are sexually exploited. This project operates in the city of Dhaka in areas where there are high numbers of homeless groups. We provide a day and night shelter for girls, young women and their children who have been living on the streets and are in vulnerable situations. At the centre, we offer basic health advice and introduce the girls to local health services. Children, mothers and pregnant women have a place to wash and rest, receive education, training and an alternative income to begging or sex work. Mothers who receive training are given a monthly salary with the condition that they leave the streets and rent a home for themselves and their children. Upon graduation, they are employed by the Hand and Cloth business, allowing women to earn a stable income whilst they grow in confidence and skills. Together, with the women and children, we are empowering them with opportunities so that they can improve their own lives.
The Indian government states there are 2.8 million people prostituted in India, but human rights groups claim that it’s more like 15 million. 200 girls are entering in to the sex trade every day, with 80% of them doing so against their own free will. This project aims to provide healing and transformation for girls who have been victims of trafficking and sex slavery. A ‘first stop’ home is a safe environment that can receive girls once they have been rescued from the brothels. Here, these girls (aged 18 and below) can receive medical care, counselling, legal support, exercise and art therapy. Each of our staff are trained in trauma counselling so that each one’s input into a girl’s life will enhance her overall progress. The home is designed to encourage their development in self-esteem whilst growing their social skills. The project also aims to build relationships amongst the local community and mobilise groups to speak out and fight for victims of sex trafficking in India.
My name is Manju. I am 15 years old. This is my story.
Last year my friend told me that he was going to take me sightseeing, but he lied to me. Before I knew it I was on the outskirts of a foreign city, where men were training me to be a prostitute. They taught me what to do and what to say. They taught me to lie to the police. They abused me every day. It was torture.
I endured this for six weeks before they moved me. I had hopes of escaping but instead my torture was just beginning. They took me to a brothel for the life they had been training me for. A long line of men stretched out the door. The pimps had set up cameras so there was no hope of escape. I was locked in a small room with a single bed. Between 8-10 men would come in and rape me every day, sometimes three men at once. I was trapped.
Name changed to protect identity.
Photography provided by Henry Jooste and Girls off the Streets
