Volunteer team encourages women and children rescued from the sex trade

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Our recent volunteer team returned home from India on July 11th, after spending two weeks in India and traveling to five different India Partners’ project sites.

Their first stop was Sahaara Charitable Society, who helps rehabilitate women and children who have exited the sex trade, or who are living in the red-light districts. Over 200,000 commercial sex workers (CSW) are in this part of India and the red-light areas are massive. It is difficult to imagine, but it is estimated that over 60,000 of those CSW's are children under the age of 12. The team met with both women and children who have been rescued from the horrors of sex trafficking.

Next stop was Anandalay (Place of Joy), which is a foster home for young girls. Their mothers are still working in the sex trade but realize that their daughters do not stand a chance of escaping the trade unless they are away from the brothels. At Anandalay the children are given an excellent education, good food, clothing, private tutoring and a loving home environment. They are well on their way to breaking the cycle of poverty and prostitution.

“These children are so precious,” said Brian Palmer, team member and Sponsorship Coordinator for India Partners, “and to say that they were excited to see us would be an understatement.”

The team also visited the rescued women living at Sharan Sthan (Place of Refuge). Each woman is treated as an individual, with personalized counseling and job rehabilitation. Two of the women are enrolling in nursing school next month! The team was able to share with a group of CSW's about the love of God and pray over their specific prayer needs. They had the opportunity to hear updates on the women’s lives, which was extremely fulfilling to personally witness their progress and collect new prayer requests.

“I can only imagine what these women have suffered,” said Brian, “but it was encouraging to see the joy on their faces when they would joke with each other or talk about the training they are receiving so they can one day go into a trade of which they will be proud.”

You can help provide these women and children with rehabilitation, education, and hope for the future, apart from the sex trade.

Suggested donation of $50

To donate to the work of Sahaara Charitable Society, click "Donate Now" and select “Sahaara Charitable Society” from the drop-down menu. Thank you.