Child Trafficking Survivor Update: Oceana’s Journey to Restoration

She was only five when a social worker found her under a cardboard box in a country far from home. Oceana was rescued from the situation she had been trafficked into at a tender age. When we first met her, she was non-verbal.

When she met our European Director, Beni Lup, she gave him the only gifts she could find to show her thanks: a little cookie and a magazine she had received on the airplane that brought her home to Romania. When we played Oceana songs in the car on the way to her host family, the word she repeated over and over again was “happiness.”

A year later, she was so excited to go to school for the first time that she woke up her mother in her host home at 5 in the morning. She was shouting, “It’s time for school!” She’s been living with this loving family and seems overjoyed to be a kid again. She lights up when listening to the radio in the car, singing along as best she can.

Beni got to see her again recently and said she is excelling in school, putting words and sentences together, and relating well to other children. She has healed tremendously, but she still has a long way to go. In particular, she has a few serious health issues due to the trauma she suffered.

For survivors of trafficking, rescue is the beginning. Unlocking the cage means freeing survivors from the effects of trauma and equipping each one for a full, sustainable life. We aim for nothing less than total restoration.

Be a part of journeys to restoration as you partner with us. You can be the key that unlocks this kind of transformation!

*Uncaged never reveals the identity of a survivor. Oceana's name and image have been changed.

Why Should You Get Involved?

What kind of behavior do we want to model for our children? It’s a question that motivates parents, leaders, and anyone who is considering what the world will look like for the next generation. Modeling justice for her children is one reason Heather Clark shared she is so passionate about being involved in the work of Uncaged.

“It’s really important for our kids to know the world exists beyond their own faces,” Heather told us. “The life they can see is not the story for everyone in the world.”

Heather and Dan Clark have been around since Uncaged was only a concept. They have watched the organization grow and have been partners since the early days. They were some of the first Key Holders, monthly partners who hold the keys to transformation for human trafficking survivors.

When we asked why they wanted to be a part of this work, Heather said,

“You can’t deny that the Lord is in this. We’ve seen how God has opened doors in terms of opportunity, in favor with the right people, and providing the property for The Sanctuary. If you want to be in the Lord’s will, you don’t have to look very hard. You just figure out where God is moving, and get on that path. The reason anti-trafficking work matters is because it matters to God.”

Heather said she would challenge others to think about the commission we have to carry the burdens of others. She talked about how we sometimes think about our own loads and how heavy they feel. But, what are we responsible for? Other people have what Scripture calls “burdens”—crushing loads they cannot carry on their own. “Being sold into slavery is a crushing load,” she continued. “That is a burden you cannot handle on your own and someone has to help you. You cannot know about these kinds of burdens and then do nothing.”

We asked what Heather would say to someone considering becoming a Key Holder and getting involved in monthly partnership with Uncaged. She said she would tell people how much of a difference a little bit of help makes for women needing freedom from the physical, emotional, and spiritual bondage they are in.

“It’s a direct correlation,” she explained. “The more you give, the more girls we can get out, and the sooner God can redeem their stories and set them back on a path of healing and wholeness.”

She had a final word for those who might already be involved but want to do more: “Double your efforts and get busy!”

Find out how to become a Key Holder today!

Become a Key Holder Today!

We're so excited to give you the first look at our brand new Key Holder program! We've been on a long journey to see the dream of the Sanctuary in Romania come to life, and you've been right there with us. This year we were able to get the Sanctuary up and running. We received our official certification from the government. And what we’ve all been waiting for, we welcomed our first survivors onto the property!

We are unlocking transformation for survivors at The Sanctuary and you hold the key!

That's where the Key Holder program comes in. We need your help to continue seeing precious souls find freedom and healing. We're inviting you to have a closer look inside The Sanctuary and be an integral part of the ongoing journey of transformation we want to see happening in Romania.

Our Key Holders represent the most dedicated anti-trafficking advocates. Through a commitment of monthly giving, you can help us continue our work of unlocking transformation for survivors in Romania and across Europe.

No amount is too small, and every gift makes a difference.

Your monthly gifts will put you right alongside trafficking Survivors, providing for their needs and impacting their lives!

The ongoing costs of running the Sanctuary every month include:

• Facility maintenance and upgrades

• Clothing and food for the survivors

• Therapy training and supplies

• Upkeep for the animals and the grounds

• Paying the staff and running training

• Educating local people on how to fight trafficking right where they are

We are the very first facility in Romania to receive authorization to work specifically in survivor aftercare and protection. When the government gave us our license, there was no designation for what we do and there were no standards set for facilities like ours. They gave us more than we asked for and we will be able to set the standards for helping survivors that need protection from their traffickers in this country!

When you become a Key Holder, at any giving level, you will be a part of this ground-breaking work. You will also receive exclusive content every month. Dedicated monthly emails like this one will include information from our experts and stories from The Sanctuary you won't get anywhere else.

Become a Key Holder