Kim, human trafficking survivor

18-year-old Kim was enthralled by stories of people who came back to Vietnam from Cambodia with enough wealth to liberate their families from poverty. When her friend suggested they seek employment there, she jumped at the chance to create a new future.

She soon realised she had been tricked to work illegally in a café that also offered prostitution services. When the police arrested her during a sting operation, Kim managed to prove she was only a forced labourer with help from Hope for Justice, an anti-trafficking organisation that also provided her safe shelter for almost two years.

Hagar Vietnam worked closely with the authorities and Hope for Justice in Cambodia to bring Kim home.

It was an extended process as cross-border travel was impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim felt isolated in a foreign country where she could not speak the language or get used to the culture and food. She became depressed in her “invisible room” and almost gave up hope, but HAGAR didn't give up on her. We also supported her during her 3-week quarantine in Vietnam and jointly developed a vocational training plan that supported her reintegration into the community.

“I feel grateful and completely trust HAGAR. Before I went to Cambodia, I only had my family to rely on. Now HAGAR is like my second family.”

To facilitate a successful recovery and reintegration, HAGAR also works with survivors' families and communities. This transition step is an important one – especially for those who have been enslaved for several years – so they don't become ostracised or vulnerable to re-exploitation. When you partner with HAGAR, you help build stronger communities and break the stigma associated with trafficking survivors.