War Cry - October, 2015 Page 34

The War Cry | OCTOBER 2015

Women desperate to provide a better life for

their families find counseling, health educa-
tion, literacy classes and vocational training at
the drop-in center. Their children receive
schooling, meals and a refuge to be with caring
staff members. Within the safety and security
of these shelters and the care of staff, the chil-
dren learn that they are loved by God and able
to pursue a better life.

Selma

When Selma was 13 years old, she was

lured to a Mumbai brothel from Nepal by a
man with the promise of a job with the circus.
For five years, she was forced to work in a
brothel until the owner died and she was free.

Selma enrolled her daughter in school at The

Salvation Army Aruna Girls Home to ensure
her safety. The staff motivated Selma to take
computer classes. Soon, The Salvation Army
hired her as an outreach worker for the drop-in
center, where she regularly visits women work-
ing in brothels and conducts meetings in their
homes to help them find solutions through
Salvation Army programs.

"Because of the stigma of prostitution,

women do not share their trials with others. I
used to be afraid to share my story, but now, I
am not afraid of what others think as long as
my story might help another woman who can
identify with me," she says. She now has five
children of her own, who receive education at

the drop-in center and Aruna Girls Home.

She says, "I see so much hope in the red

light district," she says. "When I go out into
the community, I meet so many who have
been trafficked from Nepal, like me. I always
share with them that they too can come out
of it and have a better life. Helping them has
helped me."

Rehman

Rehman was a child when he came to the

red light district to live with his grandparents.
"I would always witness fights breaking out at
home," he remembers. "We slept hungry many
nights. Outside on the streets, there was fight-
ing. There was no place to find safety and I was
constantly living in fear. I felt I had no future
and no one to look after me."

Rehman enrolled at the drop-in center when

he was seven. "Through their support, I re-
cently took the standard test for 10th grade
and passed." At 20 years old, Rehman now
works as a night care staff member for boys
from the red light district who themselves are
seeking safety and shelter. He counsels them,
conducts prayer meetings and oversees their
school studies. "My favorite part of working
at the center is teaching the children, because
I remember when I was young, no one guided
me. It was my dream to help school children
in their future, and as I am teaching them
now, I see their dreams are coming true."

There was no

place to fi nd safety
and I was constantly
living in fear. I felt
I had no future and
no one to look after me.

-- Rehman

Because

of the stigma

of prostitution,

women do not

share their trials

with others. I used

to be afraid to

share my story,

but now, I am not

afraid of what
others think.

-- Selma

29-31_IndiaAntiTraffic_WCOct15_Werk5.indd 2

9/23/15 3:18 PM