Halloween was approaching, and the O.U.R. Aftercare Team was invited to Central America to vet a facility to potentially...

Halloween was approaching, and the O.U.R. Aftercare Team was invited to Central America to vet a facility to potentially...

Halloween was approaching, and the O.U.R. Aftercare Team was invited to Central America to vet a facility to potentially refer survivors to in the future. The idea dawned on our partner to surprise two of the girls with Halloween costumes of their favorite characters. The next day, Senior Aftercare Specialist Tyler Schwab discovered a package with two Elsa costumes on his doorstep to take to the young survivors. Because our partners knew these girls so well they provided an experience the girls will never forget! At the aftercare home, one of the survivors, Tina, had been in the depths of darkness before she arrived. Tina had undergone the unimaginable at such a young age. She was sexually exploited and abused by her stepdad, and as punishment, her stepdad would exploit her in front of her family members and younger siblings. It was a scene that no child should ever have to experience or witness. Upon arriving at the aftercare home, the O.U.R. Aftercare Team grabbed their luggage and told Tina and her friend that they had a surprise for them. The two young girls huddled around with eagerness, and as Tyler went to open his suitcase, he revealed the two Elsa costumes. Bursting with excitement, the girls grabbed the costumes and immediately went to change. The fellow social workers plugged their phone into the speaker to play “Let it Go” for the girls. As they opened the door, the two survivors were dressed head to toe and began to dance around. Yet, instead of “Let it Go” belting on the speakers, the translated version titled “Libre Soy” echoed throughout the room. “Libre Soy” in Spanish means “I am free.” Before the group were two children whose freedom and innocence were stolen from them at such a young age. To see them now dressed up as their favorite character singing the words “I am free” was a moment captured in time that moved everyone who was there to witness it. This lighthearted scene was a memory that will forever be remembered by O.U.R. Aftercare and a dream that they were grateful to bring to reality.

Halloween was approaching, and the O.U.R. Aftercare Team was invited to Central America to vet a facility to potentially... was originally published here https://www.instagram.com/p/COizBorgflz