17-year-old “Isabelle” grew up in a middle-class family in the regions of Nepal. As with many families in the culture, m...

17-year-old “Isabelle” grew up in a middle-class family in the regions of Nepal. As with many families in the culture, m...

17-year-old “Isabelle” grew up in a middle-class family in the regions of Nepal. As with many families in the culture, marrying one's daughter into child marriage occurs at an alarming rate. Isabelle was forced into child marriage, and when it ended, her vulnerabilities continued to increase. To provide for herself, she started working at a local hotel as a waitress. Unfortunately, soon after she began working it became apparent that this was not a normal “waitressing” job. After she started, Isabelle’s employer began to sexually exploit her and forced her to have sexual encounters with customers at the hotel. When Isabelle tried to leave, her employer emotionally and psychologically manipulated her, telling her that if she tried to leave the hotel, he would tell her family what she had been doing. Out of sheer fear, Isabelle continued to work at the hotel, praying that someday someone would come to find her. That day soon came, as an anti-human trafficking bureau was undergoing an undercover investigation of the hotel and discovered Isabelle and three other survivors there. All the girls were taken out of the employer's vicinity and referred to a partnering aftercare home. O.U.R. came into contact with the home and went to provide services to Isabelle and the other survivors. O.U.R. also gladly agreed to fully fund and sponsor the home. The aftercare home in Nepal is home to 24 girls who are in the process of healing, including the four survivors from the hotel. Food, clothes, medical needs, and shelter are all offered. Trained counselors are there to help them work through their trauma. Non-formal educational tutors are on site as well.  When and if the survivors request legal support, the aftercare home provides all necessary information and knowledge regarding how to take legal action against their offenders. The four survivors, including Isabelle, all agreed to take legal action against their former employer, and O.U.R. and their partners provided legal counseling to facilitate their case.

17-year-old “Isabelle” grew up in a middle-class family in the regions of Nepal. As with many families in the culture, m... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/COlUadLAohF