When Malis walked through the doors if Hagar’s Home of Love in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, she carried deep physical and psychological wounds. She had been trafficked to China at just 16 years old and forced into sexual slavery and domestic servitude. When she finally escaped, she was arrested and thrown in an illegal detention center before being repatriated to Cambodia. At Hagar’s Home of Love, Malis slowly began her healing journey. Her
Tuân* was just two years old when he was trafficked from Vietnam to China along with his mother. His mom had been promised a good job across the border, only to be sold to a local man who abused them. “I was terrified,” she says. When her husband died, Tuân’s mother was forced out of the house and left homeless. Together, she and Tuân scavenged for scraps and trash they could sell
A story of resilience unfolds in Cambodia. After two years of support and care from Hagar, Mony* is rebuilding her life and thriving in her community as a seamstress. When Mony turned 18, she moved from her small village in Cambodia to the capital city, Phnom Penh, to start work at a factory. Soon after, an old friend from her hometown reached out and reconnected with her. This friend told Mony about
Rana’s harrowing story of being trafficked mirrors the plight of millions of Southeast Asian women. Rana (name changed to protect survivor privacy) grew up in an impoverished family in rural Cambodia. When her best friend promised her a good job in China, she jumped at the chance. She was going to be a “good daughter” and help her family. But when she arrived in China, her best friend sold her to a
LIFT International operates programs as part of Hagar International. Learn more about the merger here. Fai’s harrowing story of trafficking ultimately ended in freedom through justice with her brave testimony and LIFT International’s dedicated support. Fai* grew up in a hill tribe village in Northern Thailand. “We didn’t have much,” she says. “But we had some, and I was happy.” Her dad made and sold charcoal and her mom was a day
Mien enjoyed spending time with her friends and would often visit her close friend’s rented room for social gatherings and chatting. But one day, she discovered a hidden phone recording her while she was taking a shower. Shocked and terrified, Mien reported the incident to the police, but no evidence was found. The traumatic experience left Mien feeling hopeless and anxious, causing her to lose weight and live in constant fear. She
Like any loving parent, Lua wanted what was best for her and her daughter. She worked tirelessly at her small sidewalk stall in Vietnam, but it wasn’t enough. When a customer approached her with a dream opportunity – the chance to have a high-paying job in the UK – Lua filled in the form, paid the (sizeable) fee, and submitted her identity documents. Lua put everything into the opportunity for the promise
Whether it’s tailoring like Samira (pictured left), farming like Rachana (center) or running a successful cafe like Lua (right), economic empowerment is critical for survivors and vulnerable women to flourish with dignity. Right now, your support is helping 500 women and youth in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Vietnam receive career counseling, on-the-job training and business start-up capital. These are crucial skills and opportunities for survivors and vulnerable women to thrive in freedom and
Rachana and her husband Savan desperately wanted to provide a hopeful future for their two children. But their tiny village near Cambodia’s border with Thailand had few job opportunities. There was never enough money to buy food, let alone pay for their children to go to school. As the demands piled up, Rachana and Savan fell into debt. When they heard about high-paying jobs in Thailand, they sent their children to stay
When Samira was introduced to Hagar, she felt sad and hopeless. She’d experienced countless financial pressures and hardships throughout her young life. During her first pregnancy, Samira and her husband couldn’t afford for her to eat a healthy diet or to seek proper medical. When Samira lost the baby, she suffered from trauma and emotional distress. At Hagar’s Restoring Livelihoods program, Samira trained to be a tailor. She quickly gained the
By partnering with Hagar, you answer the cries of human suffering. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
By partnering with Hagar, you help survivors heal from trauma and severe abuse. Our work depends on the generosity of people like you.
