Two Survivors and the Power of One Gift

Last year, Maya* was rescued from sex trafficking. She was just 17.

Her trafficker wasn’t a stranger from far away. He was an American citizen, proof that modern slavery isn’t just a problem in developing countries. It’s a global issue, and it often hides in plain sight.

Maya had been taken far from home and sold. She was isolated, afraid, and controlled by people who saw her not as a person, but as a commodity. The trauma she endured in those months will take years to heal. When she was finally found and brought to safety, she was physically exhausted and deeply traumatised.

But her rescue nearly didn’t happen.

The only reason Maya was saved is because someone else, a young woman named Nin*, had been rescued ten years earlier.

When Nin was just a teenager, she too had been trafficked. But thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, Nin’s journey didn’t end in despair. Hagar walked with her through every stage of her recovery, providing trauma counselling, legal advocacy, safe accommodation, education, and, eventually, reintegration with her family. Her healing journey wasn’t easy, but it was possible because someone believed in her.

Hagar also worked with Nin’s family, helping them understand the warning signs of trafficking and how to respond safely. So, when they saw another young girl in danger – Maya - they knew what to do. They raised the alarm. They made the call that led to Maya’s rescue.

This is what makes Maya’s story so powerful. It is a story of survival, yes, but also of connection. Of restoration. Of healing that reaches across generations.

Today, Maya is in the early stages of her recovery. She is still coming to terms with what happened to her. She’s receiving intensive trauma counselling and is living in a safe environment where she can begin to feel stable again. She’s working slowly toward her dreams, supported by a dedicated Hagar caseworker and a team who believes in her future.

But she can’t do it alone.

Maya needs long-term support, just like Nin did. And with your help, she can get there.

*Maya and Nin’s name has been changed to protect their privacy