Stitched with Strength: From Exploitation to Freedom

Tanzila, human trafficking survivor

Growing up in extreme poverty in Karachi, Pakistan, Tanzila was forced by her father, a drug addict, to work instead of attending school. He took their earnings while they endured abuse. At 14, she was married off to settle her father’s debt and sent to an abusive household in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her unemployed husband, twice her age, left her to care for his three children. Without financial support, Tanzila often had to beg neighbours for food.

Hope arrived through Hagar. She learned to sew, received trauma counselling, and slowly began to believe in a future she could shape for herself. With each stitch, she reclaimed her dignity and discovered her strength.

"Hagar became a source of rejuvenation of my new life." - Tanzila

Today, Tanzila is now a skilled tailor and a valued member of a women’s cooperative. With a stable income, she ensures her children are fed, clothed, and in school—opportunities she never had. Economic independence has transformed her from a survivor into a provider and role model, empowering her to shape her own future.

Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation. Hagar walks alongside survivors and their families and communities to support safe reintegration—especially for those who’ve endured years of exploitation. This vital step helps prevent stigma and re-trafficking. When you give through Hagar, you help build stronger, more compassionate communities where survivors are welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive.

With financial independence and protection from exploitation, women move from crisis to confidence—building brighter futures for themselves and their families.