As Not For Sale marks a decade of partnership with Dignita, we reflect on a pioneering model that transformed survivor support from charity to agency.

Ten Years of Dignity in Action

In January 2026, Not For Sale celebrates ten years of Dignita, a social enterprise in the Netherlands that has become a benchmark for survivor-centered recovery in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. Founded with early funding and strategic support from Not For Sale, Dignita represents more than a decade of collaboration rooted in a shared belief: that long-term freedom requires dignity, choice, and economic agency.

At a time when an estimated 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery, according to the International Labour Organization, the need for solutions that extend beyond rescue has never been more urgent. Dignita’s model directly addresses this gap. Rather than framing survivors through the lens of victimhood, it offers practical pathways to independence through education, employment, and community.

This tenth anniversary is not simply a milestone. It is proof that when ethical business models are aligned with survivor leadership and sustainable systems, lasting impact is possible.

What Is Dignita? A Social Enterprise With Purpose

Dignita was established as a social enterprise designed to create real employment opportunities for people exiting exploitation while simultaneously generating income to fund its charitable foundation. This dual structure allows the organization to operate sustainably, reducing reliance on donations alone while expanding its reach and resilience.

The enterprise operates restaurants and beauty programs that function as training grounds, workplaces, and community hubs. Participants are not positioned as beneficiaries of charity, but as students, interns, and professionals gaining transferable skills in real-world environments.

For Not For Sale, Dignita exemplifies what effective post-trafficking care can look like when survivors are given access to dignified work rather than short-term assistance. This approach aligns with growing evidence in the anti-trafficking field that economic vulnerability is one of the strongest predictors of re-exploitation.

Education as a Pathway to Freedom

At the core of Dignita’s impact is education. Through its foundation, participants receive training across three key sectors: hospitality, beauty, and administrative services. These fields were chosen deliberately. They offer accessible entry points, clear career pathways, and opportunities for long-term financial stability.

The hospitality program includes hands-on culinary training and barista education delivered by professional chefs in operational restaurant settings. Participants are not learning in isolation. They are embedded in functioning businesses, gaining confidence alongside technical skills.

Similarly, Dignita’s beauty programs equip participants with certified training that enables them to work in salons or pursue independent careers. Administrative training provides another pathway for those whose strengths lie in organization, communication, and office-based roles.

Research from organizations such as Polaris and the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery consistently shows that access to education and safe employment is one of the most effective forms of prevention against re-trafficking. Dignita’s model operationalizes this research in daily practice.

Restoring Dignity Without Labels

The name Dignita is not symbolic by accident. It reflects a deliberate rejection of language that defines people by their exploitation. Survivors are not branded, categorized, or publicly identified by their past. Instead, the focus is on who they are becoming.

This philosophy aligns closely with trauma-informed care principles, which emphasize autonomy, respect, and empowerment. By avoiding labels such as “former prostitute” or even “survivor” in daily operations, Dignita creates environments where participants can rebuild identity on their own terms.

For many who enter the program after experiencing severe coercion, violence, or psychological trauma, this shift is transformative. Dignity is not restored through words alone, but through consistent experiences of respect, choice, and trust.

From Dependency to Agency

Over ten years, Dignita has intentionally moved away from traditional charity models toward one centered on agency. This evolution reflects a deeper understanding of what long-term success looks like in survivor care.

Success is not measured by how long individuals remain connected to services, but by when they no longer need them. Participants who once entered classrooms withdrawn and intimidated often leave with professional certifications, work experience, and the confidence to navigate independent lives.

Some alumni now work as coaches in safe houses, train law enforcement on survivor-centered communication, or contribute to prevention efforts within the military police. These outcomes underscore a critical truth in anti-trafficking work: survivors are not passive recipients of help, but leaders with expertise shaped by lived experience.

Resilience Through Crisis and Toward Sustainability

Like many social enterprises, Dignita faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the hospitality sector. Restaurant closures and reduced foot traffic tested the resilience of the model. Yet these challenges also accelerated innovation.

Looking ahead, Dignita is expanding its beauty education programs by offering courses to the public, creating new revenue streams that support survivor training. The organization continues working toward restoring profitability in its restaurants while maintaining its social mission.

This balance between business viability and social impact is not easy, but it is essential. As sustainability becomes a growing priority across the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors, Dignita offers a case study in how ethical business models can strengthen, rather than dilute, mission integrity.

A Decade of Partnership With Not For Sale

From its inception, Dignita has been supported by a network of partners, donors, and advocates who believed in its vision. Not For Sale is proud to have played a role in helping fund and establish the enterprise, and to have walked alongside it over the past decade.

This partnership reflects Not For Sale’s broader strategy: addressing human trafficking not only through awareness and rescue, but through systemic solutions that prevent exploitation from recurring. By investing in economic empowerment, education, and survivor-led models, the organization continues to push the field forward.

As Not For Sale marks this anniversary, it also reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovative approaches that restore freedom in its fullest sense.

The Next Ten Years of Dignita

Ten years of Dignita demonstrates what is possible when dignity is placed at the center of anti-trafficking work. It shows that survivors thrive when given real choices, meaningful work, and the opportunity to define success for themselves.

As the organization looks toward the next decade, its vision remains grounded in what it has learned: sustainable change happens when people are trusted with their own futures. Whether through expanded programs, new locations, or deeper partnerships, Dignita’s impact will continue to ripple outward.

For Not For Sale, this anniversary is both a celebration and a call to action. The fight against human trafficking demands models that are bold, ethical, and effective. Dignita has proven that dignity is not an abstract value, but a practical strategy for freedom.