Kim’s Story

18 years old with curiosity and desire to explore the world, Kim decided to join her friend in an adventurous journey to Cambodia. This young girl hoped this would be a ticket to an exciting new future as well as a statement of her liberty to her family. However, Kim’s dream was rudely awakened by the harsh truth: Kim was tricked into working at an illegal cafe in Cambodia.

Before being aware of the situation, Kim continued to face another complicated circumstance. Due to illegal activities, the cafe where Kim was trafficked, was investigated and restricted by the police. Panic and fear surrounded Kim when she was questioned by the police on suspicion of her participation in the prostitution activities of this cafe. Fortunately, after all, she had proved her innocence and was transferred to an organization supporting survivors of human trafficking named Hope for Justice.

After being admitted in their program, Kim lived in their shelter for nearly 2 years. With the hope to bring Kim back to her homeland safely, Hope for Justice has contacted and connected her with Hagar. With experience and expertise in supporting survivors of human trafficking, Hagar has provided the necessary information on legal procedures as well as worked with the local authorities where Kim lived in Vietnam to ensure she come home safely. There were times she was depressed and discouraged when thinking that the distance between her and the family up to 2,225 km. Along with that, the difference in language and culture caused Kim struggled in life in Cambodia. Homesickness and self-pity in a strange country framed and isolated Kim in a state of suffocation and loneliness.

Hagar’s presence and support helped her liberate herself from this “invisible room”. Coordinating with Hope for Justice and Blue Dragon, Hagar successfully brought Kim back to Vietnam safely. However, due to the COVID situation in Vietnam, Kim had to quarantine for 3 weeks before returning home. In 3 weeks of isolation, Hagar has been her close companion supported her all quarantine fee. During the period, her case manager worked with her to plan a vocational training as well as helped her prepare for the reintegration. Finally, she return to her family’s arms and started planning for her life.

With more than 5 months admitting to Hagar’s program, Kim shared her thanks:
“I feel grateful and completely trust in Hagar’s support. During the past 2 years, I have been craving Vietnamese traditional food and the sound of people speaking Vietnamese the most. And now I can inhale the taste of this homeland and enjoy my mom’s homemade food. All of that is thanks to Hagar. Before I went to Cambodia, I only had my family, but now when I come back to Vietnam I have a second family, that is Hagar.”

Son endured extreme abuse by the hands of her father for a long time and after finding this out, her mother who worked overseas for the majority of her childhood immediately returned home to Vietnam to seek justice for Son.

In collaboration with the National Hotline 111 for child protection, Son was admitted under Hagar’s care and received safe accommodation and psychotherapy. After nearly a month of receiving Hagar’s accommodation services, they had decided to return to their hometown to restart a new life.

However, there were initial difficulties in their relationship as the long absence of her mother had created a distance between them. This led Son to move back in with her brother and grandparents, where she felt more connected. Hagar has worked to become a bridge between them with social counseling, narrowing the gaps and misunderstandings in their relationship.

This summer was an important milestone in Son’s life, as she had successfully completed the high school entrance exam and received admission into a preeminent high school in the her province. This is a splendid achievement that demonstrates Son’s ability and strong will. To encourage her energy and prepare for this new journey, Hagar will continue to support her.

“Son is a young girl with full of positive energy. From the moment she entered Hagar’s program, I have seen her grow up and become more mature day by day. Compared to her peers, Son has become a thoughtful and independent person. Son is always moving forward and never let the obstacles of the past prevent her from breaking through. She has a plan for her future and dares to dream higher. This is because Son wants to become the best version of herself, which is not easy for anyone, especially for a 15-year-old girl like her.”