Mar 19, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, Vietnam
Meet two of our caregivers at Not For Sale Vietnam, Huong and Trang.
Huong has been a valuable part of the Not For Sale team for over a decade now and has had the opportunity to develop deep bonds with many of the boys in the program. Recovery from trauma is a long, difficult journey, and Huong is there to support the survivors every step of the way. She plays a key role in their development of confidence and self-sufficiency.
Also essential to the boys’ recovery process, Trang is another Not For Sale trailblazer. Her passion for the anti-human-trafficking movement was ignited when Not For Sale sponsored her son’s surgery in 2006. Since then, she has become actively involved in multiple aspects of the boys’ lives – from cooking family meals to facilitating the development of crucial life skills. Tranghe ensures that when the boys leave the shelter, they are prepared for bright futures.
We are in awe of these powerful women’s dedication to the fight against commercial child exploitation! #SheInspiresMe
Mar 15, 2018 | Bay Area, Blog, News From the Frontlines
As a newly single mother who had just left a toxic relationship, Tyrina moved across the country in order to find financial stability and was introduced to prostitution by a woman who had created an “ad” for her when she was unable to find work and was desperate to provide for herself and her daughter. Her vulnerability left her powerless and in perpetual danger and discomfort. Although she now had financial security, she and her daughter’s safety was now at risk. She knew something needed to change.
Tyrina was afraid of being alone and again found herself in a dangerous relationship with a man who convinced her that if she became a prostitute, he would help provide for her and her child. He also helped teach her how to advertise herself and her appearance better in a way that attracted more customers and ultimately brought in more money. Her relationship although comfortable at first transitioned into a toxic, controlling, and manipulative one always with strings attached –- not far off from exploitation.
Luckily, Tyrina was able to escape trafficking as well as the relationship she had with her trafficker. However, because she no longer had a steady income, she began struggling again to find a job that would provide sufficiently enough for both her and her daughter. Tyrina found herself turning to illegal side jobs just to make ends meet.
It was when Tyrina had grown tired of constantly being in an unhealthy mix of “doing both right and wrong,” that she turned to Not For Sale’s Bay Area program where she met the project director, Darian. Darian acted as Tyrina’s counselor through encouraging her to do better for herself and her daughter as well as provided the resources for her to do so; from job training and support, to representing her in court, Darian and Tyrina’s relationship has extended two years and will last many more. Tyrina viewed the program as a safe haven for women, and she began bringing in other survivors who she knew felt stuck and needed help.
Today, with Not For Sale’s help, Tyrina has a steady job and is able to independently provide for her and her daughter. She has discovered through the Not For Sale program that she has a passion for helping people, specifically those who have been in similar situations to her own and hopes to one day attend school to become a counselor.
“I’m an example that no one is perfect. Change doesn’t happen overnight. You have to take the steps to be better. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and I’ve done great things. It’s about bettering myself and striving to be better,” Tyrina said.
Not For Sale is proud of Tyrina’s strength and drive that enabled her to rise above her circumstances. Tyrina is a great role model not only to her daughter, but to women everywhere.
#SheInspiresMe #FearlessFriday
Mar 12, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, South Africa
Meet Sne Makhubu of Not For Sale South Africa.
At only 15 years old Sne is already a role model to many in South Africa and is one of Not For Sale’s most inspirational success stories.
Sne was introduced to surfing at 9 years old by her coach Sandile Mqadi who works with Not For Sale South Africa,and hosts a surf club for local kids in efforts to keep them off the streets and away from exploitation. As soon as Sne was put on a board, she fell in love. She began swimming lessons and training in life-saving.
It wasn’t long until she was launched into her contest career, being chosen to represent KZN at the Grommet Games in Port Elizabeth. Today, at just 15, Sne is rated in the top five under-eighteen surfers in the entire country and is a potential World Surf League Women’s Qualifying Series world tour contender as well as 2020 Olympic Surfing Candidate.
Apart from being an extremely talented surfer, Sne has a huge heart for giving back to her community. Sne supports Not For Sale by donating surf equipment, and volunteers where she was first mentored and found her love of surfing.
We are amazed by Sne’s journey along with her passion to give back to her community and will be rooting for her in 2020! #SheInspiresMe
Mar 7, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, Romania
When she was just 14 years old, Victoria* was forced to become a sex slave for powerful businessmen in Bucharest, Romania. Her mother was an alcoholic, and she had no family support, which left her vulnerable to exploitation.
The situation escalated to the point that her trafficker forced her to receive an important client under threat of killing her mother and her sisters, who were still unaware that Victoria was being exploited and abused.
Finally, after a year of abuse, Victoria was able to receive help from the authorities. She found Not For Sale Romania, and began receiving services as a survivor of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It has been nearly ten years since Victoria came to Not For Sale Romania.
With Not For Sale Romania’s support, Victoria finished her high school studies, graduated from university, and completed a beauty training program. Now Victoria works in the tourist industry, and volunteers at Not For Sale with new survivors.
The path from being trafficked to regaining empowerment is long, and complex. Victoria’s situation is just one example of the work Not For Sale does together with survivors. What is destroyed in a minute, takes most often years to fix.
We’re proud of Victoria, not only for her groundbreaking recovery, but for being a powerful role model to survivors and women all over the world.
#SheInspiresMe
Mar 5, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, The Netherlands
“I give you a 100% guarantee that through Not For Sale you will become happy again,” pronounces Faida, one of our thriving survivors at Not For Sale Netherlands. Showcasing immense strength and courage, she has repeatedly proven her ability to battle the odds and persevere despite numerous roadblocks along her path to rehabilitation.
Not For Sale met Faida after her escape from an exploitative domestic trafficking situation. She had traveled to the Netherlands to work as a housekeeper for distant relatives and soon realized the job was not as advertised. Her traffickers forced her to work long hours for no pay, with physical and emotional abuse, and little food. In order to coerce her to remain in her position, they threatened to slander Faida’s name back in her conservative home country.
Despite these coercive measures, Faida made the difficult decision to run away. Her traffickers made good on their threats, and it became impossible for Faida to return home with her damaged reputation. She turned to Not For Sale for help.
Not For Sale Netherlands gave Faida the tools she needed to build her confidence and gain skills to support herself financially. After advancing through culinary training, she has now secured two different jobs as a blossoming chef. She has also worked hard to learn both English and Dutch, making her feel more at home in a country where she once felt like an outsider. Even with all her progress, she still struggles for her voice to be heard as someone affected by domestic work trafficking – an often overlooked human rights issue. Her legal case was thrown out by the court because they regarded it only as a case of domestic violence, not human trafficking. However, Not For Sale has remained firm in its support for Faida and continues to provide resources for her recovery.
Faida will not let the naysayers slow her down. She is determined to make a life for herself in the Netherlands and show the world her capacity to contribute to society as an empowered survivor. #SheInspiresMe
Sep 26, 2017 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, Vietnam
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As a child, Hoang* was a victim of severe domestic abuse. Before he received help from Not For Sale Vietnam, he endured in silence and bottled the fear and pain tightly inside him. Recognizing the trauma he had suffered, Not For Sale Vietnam created opportunities to care for his psychological, physical, social, and educational needs.
Today, Hoang has discovered his passions, and rebuilt his self-esteem and trust in the world. Hoang found his dream in becoming a Dessert Chef, and he hopes to travel abroad to learn from French Dessert Chefs in the future. Not For Sale Vietnam will support his goals and help him realize a life where he is able to provide for himself – and find happiness.
Learn more about the Not For Sale Vietnam project.
*Name changed for Hoang’s protection.
Not For Sale partners with the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. Blue Dragon kids are street kids, children with disabilities, children from rural families living in extreme poverty, and victims of human trafficking and slavery. Not For Sale and Blue Dragon aim to rescue kids from danger, reunite them with their families when we can, and provide all the services needed for recovery and growth.
Visit Blue Dragon’s page for more information.
