Freedom Fighter Makes Dolls for Survivors

Hi Friends,

Even the smallest acts of kindness can mean the world to a survivor of sex trafficking. You may remember that when we first rescued Snowy, who was just 12 years old at the time, we gave her a doll. What we didn’t know is that it was the first doll she had ever owned. “I never dreamed of having a doll,” she told us.

A Freedom Fighter like you took these words to heart. “Igrett” is a skilled seamstress and businesswoman in Eastern Europe. For years, she has owned a small business where she makes and sells dolls and clothes. Growing up, she always knew about Human Trafficking. “We’re a small country that struggles a lot with this,” she says. “Everyone knows at least a little bit about the problem or knows about someone who has been affected by it.”

She heard about Uncaged through a chance meeting. One day, she took her car to an auto service station and our Europe Director happened to be there, too. They struck up a conversation, and he shared about our work in Romania and beyond. Igrett immediately wanted to get involved, but she wasn’t sure how. That’s when our Europe Director suggested she make dolls for survivors. Igrett ran with the idea.

“It makes me feel so good,” she says. “I want to help the ladies and the children. I even try to customize the dolls so that their faces and hair matches the survivors. I make clothes for the dolls like dresses and doctors outfits to help the survivors dream about their own lives.”

Igrett has already made dozens of dolls as a sign of welcome and hope for survivors. When the Covid-19 travel bans lift, she wants to do even more. “When I can, I want to volunteer at the Sanctuary and teach the survivors how to make the dolls, too,” she says. She knows firsthand that making dolls can sustain a family and bring hope to others.

Every day, we hear of more abolitionists like Igrett rising up and lending their talents to this fight against human trafficking. It can look like making dolls to welcome child survivors. It can look like teaching survivors to make cards. It can look like praying for survivors and encouraging our work here. Igrett is the perfect reminder that each of us has a part to play in unlocking transformation for survivors. We are so grateful for her, just as we are grateful for you.

We hold the keys to freedom!

How Child Sex Trafficking Happens: Snowy's Story

Ending the evil of child sex trafficking means learning how it operates. The UN recently estimated that 47% of trafficking survivors in Central Europe are children. Trafficking a child is unfathomable to most of us, it can be hard to understand how it happens. Snowy is one of dozens of child survivors we have worked with. Her story shows us some of the factors that lead to a child being trafficked: addiction, poverty, abuse, and more. Sadly, her family had a role in trafficking her. Up to 35% of children trafficked for sexual exploitation have a parent orchestrating the abuse.

Knowing what makes children like Snowy vulnerable also tells us how to protect them. It's why at Uncaged, we take a holistic approach to prevention and healing. Right now, we are collaborating with an international coalition on a strategy to end child trafficking. We are creating policies to recognize vulnerable children. We are investing in education so parents know how to protect their children from traffickers. We are working to make sure families have better options than selling their children. And yes, we are bringing children to safety when they need somewhere to go. Your support makes all of this work possible.

Snowy's story is ultimately one of HOPE because of people like you. It takes an army of abolitionists to find these children, protect them, give them the care they need. People like you stepped in to bring healing to Snowy. People like you are making sure children like Snowy never experience the horrors of trafficking. Let's equip ourselves for this fight. Watch Snowy's story knowing that we hold the keys to freedom! We can be the generation that ends this evil.

Healing Heroes Like Ramona

As I talk to the 58 survivors we’ve identified across Europe, they tell me the most incredible stories. They are stories full of pain, deception, and unthinkable cruelty. Their stories also show deep resilience and heroism.

I want to share the story of one survivor with you. Let’s call her “Ramona.” When she was in her early 20s, she was a student at the local University. She met another young woman there who wasn’t a student. This other woman formed a “friendship” with Ramona. Soon, this “friend” introduced her to a man who treated her like a queen. Once they had been dating for a while, this man invited her on a romantic trip in Western Europe. Ramona accepted.

“That’s where my nightmare began,” Ramona told us. The man she thought was her boyfriend turned out to be her trafficker. For the next two years, Ramona endured unimaginable conditions and abuse. For much of the time, she was trapped on a boat where people would come to exploit her.

One day, Ramona’s trafficker took her into the city. Ramona seized her chance! She found a police officer and reported what was happening to her - that she was a slave, that her life was in danger.

Thankfully, the police officer believed her. He took Ramona to safety and investigated her trafficker. Soon, they arrested the trafficker for enslaving Ramona and 28 other women. That’s right - 28 other women went free because of Ramona’s bravery. She is a hero.

Ever since, Ramona has been tucked away in a safehouse where she says “a wonderful team takes care of me.” This safehouse is part of our Freedom Highway network. When they realized Ramona was Romanian, they called our team in Europe.

Now, Ramona’s dream is to unlock her future back in Romania. “My desire is to return to my homeland Romania and see my family and friends again. I know that life is not ever going to be the same, but I know that if I was able to escape from hell, I will surely succeed in creating a new path for my life.”

Ramona has already brought freedom to others. Now, she's ready to build a new life. We have the honor of making that dream come true by unlocking her transformation.

For just $16,000 per year, we can provide Ramona with everything she needs to heal at the Sanctuary. She will receive world-class, trauma-informed care for everything from her body, mind, and spirit. Soon, we will see her back in school and ready to live the life she was destined for.

I cannot think of any greater honor than getting to walk with heroic women like Ramona. Your generosity makes it possible for us to bring healing for her and each of the 58 women waiting across Europe.

We hold the keys to unlock her future.

Awestruck,

Kim Westfall

PS, We are focused on these 58 women, but the truth is we are hearing of more survivors who need our care every day. Keep praying that God makes a way to bring hundreds of these precious survivors to our doors.