Join us as our Holding the Ropes campaign unfolds, featuring the inspiring narratives of two beneficiaries. Click the images to view their videos, accompanied by concise story summaries.
Sonal’s mother committed suicide when she was a baby. When she was 16, her father forced her to marry an older, married man, and she gave birth to a baby girl at the age of 17. Because of continued abuse from her father and in-laws, she ran away and ended up in the red-light district, where she was sold for $120. Sonal’s life spiraled into hopelessness, and she became addicted to drugs. Eventually, a special grace filled her life when she was rescued from the red-light district and joined YouCanFreeUs. Sonal is learning many new things and dreams of becoming a social worker to help other girls who are living in darkness.
Anu’s parents were poor, from a very backward tribal community, and unable to provide for their children’s education. Anu was taken and sold at the tender age of ten, where she was tortured and abused for three years until she was rescued. Tragically, her parents did not want to take her back home because of the stigma she carried coming from the red-light district. They forced her to marry an old man, and when her husband’s family found out about her past, they rejected her and sold her again. Anu endured a lot of torture in sex slavery until she escaped. She was brought to YouCanFreeUs, where the staff loved and supported her. She is moving forward and never wants to return to her old life.