Alma* carefully filled two mugs with chocolate. Opening two cards she’d intentionally chosen, The Exodus Road’s social worker and psychologist filled them with soothing words of comfort. She folded the pajamas and soft blankets she’d picked out, the cloth lightweight to reflect the warm Latin American climate. Finally, Alma picked out two perfect roses.
Alma was getting ready to meet two young women she’d been in contact with for weeks, alongside fellow team members at The Exodus Road. Coral* and Georgia* were both about 20 years old, and they were far from home. When they accepted jobs in another country as bartenders, they never dreamed that they’d end up being trafficked for sex instead. Physically and emotionally abused so they’d stay in line, the girls felt hopeless.
The situation was especially crushing for Georgia, who had a young child that she’d left at home in her mother’s care. Georgia begged her traffickers to be allowed to call her mother to speak to her son, even briefly. Finally, they agreed.
When Georgia’s mother understood what was happening, she immediately went to the authorities. Law enforcement called on The Exodus Road’s Latin American team to help Georgia and Coral.
Our team secretly offered the young women ways to escape. Despite the abuse they’d suffered, Coral and Georgia courageously followed our investigators’ instructions and ran away. Immediately, our team provided them a place to stay and transportation home.
Alma was there at the airport to meet Georgia and Coral. She took them to their hotel room, with the gifts and notes waiting for them.
Overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they’d suffered and the relief of being safe and cared for, the survivors wept as Alma hugged them.
“This is the first time someone has done something for us without wanting us to do horrible things,” Georgia cried.
Although the tactical part of investigation and intervention is essential in fighting human trafficking, Alma possesses a force that’s just as important: compassion. Coral and Georgia have endured terrible trauma, and their recovery process will be a long one. But it has begun with the experience of care that you have made possible as part of The Exodus Road’s community.
