Meet Soriya*

Survivor of Child Sexual Exploitation

9 years old

 Southeast Asia

We were just kids when it all started. 

When I was 9, a school in a nearby city offered me a scholarship. It covered not only my education but also housing and meals. For my family, it felt like a miracle. Finally, a real opportunity that my parents had hoped for but couldn’t provide. The school even paid for my travel and gave my parents extra money to ease the transition.

When I hugged my parents goodbye, none of us could have imagined what was about to happen.

The school targeted girls like me on purpose: young and from families struggling to survive. The education we were promised? It never happened. Instead, we were abused and sexually exploited daily by the very headmaster who had promised my parents he would care for us.

The other students and I tried to say “no”, but when we did, we were threatened. We were far away from home and so afraid. We didn’t know what to do, so we stayed quiet. 

Over time, I became friends with a few of the other girls. We dreamed about getting out and seeing our families again. One day, when no one was watching, we took a chance. We grabbed each other’s hands and ran as fast and as far as we could. This is when someone noticed us and asked if we were okay. We told him everything, and they took us to the local station. At that moment,  I knew we were safe and the nightmare was finally over. This is when they told us that they knew of an organization that would help us.  

A21 made sure we were safe and placed us under protection while the police investigated the school. Our trafficker was arrested, and A21’s legal team helped us with the court process. 

A21 also welcomed us into their Freedom Center, where we went to counseling to help us deal with everything we’d been through. They even helped us get scholarships to go to a real school. To get the education we were supposed to have in the first place. 

At the Freedom Center, we could just be kids again. Today, everything is different. Some of my friends finished school and have jobs. Others of us, including myself, are mentoring younger girls who went through what we did. A few of us even volunteer at A21 events, telling our stories to help protect other kids from exploitation.
    

..

.

Meet Gawin*

Survivor of forced scamming

42 years old

 Thailand

My name is Gawin* and this is my story of survival, escape, and the power of support in overcoming human trafficking.

I grew up in a large family in a small mountain town in Thailand. Our opportunities were limited, but I was determined to make something of myself. I taught myself how to use a computer, social media, and English, hoping these skills would open doors to a better future. 

After high school, I worked odd jobs, but by the end of 2021, work opportunities were scarce. I came across a customer service job for an online casino in a neighboring country. It seemed legitimate, promising a good salary. Some friends from my village had found similar work abroad, so I applied confidently.

The offer came quickly. I was excited, even when told I'd need to cover my relocation costs. This was my chance, I thought. What happened next was unimaginable and worse than any nightmare.

After taking a bus to the meeting area my recruiter arranged for new hires, we had to walk all day to get to our next stop. Armed guards met us there in a van and took us to a remote location. There was no way to turn back. I found myself trapped in a compound and forced to scam innocent people online day after day. The reality of my situation hit hard—I wasn't an employee; I was a prisoner.

The horrors I witnessed haunted me. Any form of retaliation resulted in physical assaults, electrocution, and confinement in dark rooms. I even saw someone thrown from a high floor of a building. Every day was a battle to survive, meet impossible quotas, and avoid punishment.

After a month of this hell, I knew I had to escape. It’s risky to escape because many who do, are caught and brought back to the compound, and severely punished. But one night, I slipped out of the building, past the guards, and into the unknown. With the little money I'd saved, I hitched rides back to Thailand, constantly looking over my shoulder.

Returning home was bittersweet. I was free, but the trauma followed me. When I shared my story, I learned others in my community had fallen into the same trap. Several people in my community reported the situation to law enforcement, leading to a raid that freed dozens of people.

A small team, including A21, interviewed the victims and identified us as victims of trafficking. A21 offered legal support and aftercare services that would prove crucial in my journey to recovery.

I engaged in A21’s Life Programs, where I found the strength to start over. I opened a small business repairing electronics and vehicles, turning the tech skills that once made me a target into tools for my independence.

But A21's support went beyond helping me rebuild my life. They stood by me as I shared my story with law enforcement, and helped me prepare for testifying in court. Their unwavering presence gave me the courage to face the company and play a part in dismantling their operation.

The restitution I'm eligible for isn't just about money—it's about justice, about acknowledging the wrong done to me and so many others. Thank you to everyone who supports A21. Your generosity does more than change lives, it restores them.

.

.

Meet Liam*

Survivor of Online Child Sexual Exploitation

13 years old

 USA

My name is Liam. I am a survivor of online child sexual exploitation, and this is my story. 

Video gaming has always been one of my favorite hobbies. After school, on weekends, and anytime I had a free moment, I’d be online. It was normal for me to jump into games and connect with strangers from all over the world. I’ll never forget the day I met Charlotte, “Charlie” for short.

We quickly hit it off. Day after day, we’d spend hours playing together. Over time, we started sharing more personal details and began talking outside of the game. She was older than me, but I actually found her easier to talk to than girls my own age.

One day, out of nowhere, she sent me sensual photos of herself. There was no denying she was beautiful. Then she asked me to send something in return. I felt uneasy, it was something I had never done before. But I went through with it. The moment I hit send, I felt a deep sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew I had done something I would regret.

From that point on, everything changed. She kept pressuring me for more photos and videos. When I said I didn’t want to, her tone shifted. She became aggressive, nothing like the person I thought I knew. I tried to ignore her constant messages, but then she did something I couldn’t ignore. She began messaging my friends, sharing what I had sent her. She threatened that if I didn’t give her more, “things would only get worse.”

I was only 13 at the time. Reeling from the embarrassment and confusion of it all, I didn’t know what to do, whom to trust, or how to ask for help. 

Just a few days later, an organization came to my school to talk about the growing risks of online exploitation for teens. They played a Can You See Me? video from A21 about a boy who had been exploited through a gaming platform. Watching it felt like looking into a mirror. It was as if they were telling my story.

In that moment, something in me shifted. I knew I had to speak up. I gathered every bit of courage I had and told a trusted adult everything. I thought that sharing my story would make me feel worse, but instead, I was met with kindness and compassion. For the first time, I didn’t feel alone.

..

.

Meet Tatiana*

Survivor of Sex Trafficking

31 years old

 Western Africa

My world fell apart when I was just a child.

First, I lost my parents. Then war came to our village. Our house was attacked, and I watched the majority of my family die right before my eyes. I was kidnapped and taken into the forest, where I was tortured and abused over and over again. When they were done with me, I was left alone to die. 

Against all odds, someone eventually found me. I was in critical condition and couldn’t walk, but they helped me get back to my grandmother. Our neighbor told us it was too dangerous to stay in the community. She said she knew someone in Bangladesh who could keep me safe and give me the medical help I so desperately needed. 

I thought the worst was over. I had no idea her kindness was a trap.

When I arrived in Bangladesh, the woman who was supposed to help me told me that I had to "pay back" my transportation and medical costs.  I had no money, and she knew that. This was the day I was sold for the first time. I had escaped one nightmare only to find myself in another. From that day onward, I was sexually exploited constantly, forced to serve countless customers a day. 

After a year, I found myself completely hopeless and desperate. I don’t know where the courage came from, but one day I took a chance and trusted some strangers. I am so thankful they didn’t take advantage of me. They helped me get to Turkey, and from there I made my way to Greece. That's when I saw the A21 Human Trafficking Hotline number and called.

Not only did A21 believe me and what had happened, but they did something about it. For the first time in years, I was truly safe. A21 provided me with emergency accommodation, medical care, and ongoing counseling. They helped me work with the police to pursue justice and make sure my traffickers couldn't hurt anyone else. The staff at the Freedom Center supported me as I healed. And today,  I am living a life I never imagined was possible. 

I can't change what happened to me. But maybe my story will help protect someone else.

..

.

Meet Milagros*

Survivor of Domestic Servitude

28 years old

 Latin America

My name is Milagros, and I’m from Guatemala. I'm a wife, mother of two, and a survivor of human trafficking. Before trafficking, I was a teacher. I loved mentoring others and inspiring people in my community. Then I decided to come to the United States to give my children a better life.

As I was traveling through Mexico with my young son and infant daughter, our bus was stopped by masked men with weapons. They screamed at us: "Either you die or you work for us." I had my children to think about; survival was the only option. 

While they escorted me to captivity, I imagined what would be waiting for me. But nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to endure.  They took me to a large, nice home, where many other people were being held. My purpose? I was there to clean the floors. I had to do so only by crawling on my hands and knees so neighbors wouldn't see us through the windows and get suspicious. We were watched 24/7, and starved unless we agreed to sexual acts with our traffickers, which I always refused. Most days, I got two cookies or some canned food. Some days, nothing.

I witnessed things no person should ever see. Anyone who didn’t comply would be brutally killed in front of the rest of us to prove a point: obey or die. 

Thankfully, my husband was informed about what happened and paid a ransom to the traffickers to release me. But freedom didn't feel like freedom. Not yet. I had lost all hope. I struggled with night terrors, PTSD, and constant fear for my family that I couldn’t get rid of. 

We were fortunate to be able to make our way to Texas, where I connected with a therapist. He encouraged me to participate in counseling and provided a referral so I could get legal help. A few months later, I met the team at A21.

Through A21, I realized I was capable. I could move forward. They gave me the tools I didn’t know I needed or could have. A21 taught me a word I'd never heard before: resilience. And I embody it now.

I learned to trust again. I realized there are good people in this world. A21 helped me learn English. They provided me with job readiness training and helped me create a resume. I completed Life Programs and got my work authorization.

Today, I have dreams again. I want to give my children the same words of encouragement A21 gave me. I want to advocate for others, just like I did before.

..

.