India
Inspired by the saving love of Christ, The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) remains committed to freeing individuals from the chains of human trafficking, to offer strength to the powerless, comfort to the oppressed, and hope to the thousands of men, women, and children enslaved around the world.
The red light district of Mumbai, for instance, is the home and workplace for 9,000 young women and girls tied to the sex trade industry. In the same densely populated area, an estimated 5,000 children are living on the streets. But located in the heart of this tragic place are The Salvation Army Jeevan Asha drop-in center and Aruna Girls Home. These two beacons of hope for women and children seeking a safe alternative to the sex trade are supported by funding from SAWSO.
The drop-in center offers counseling, health education, literacy classes and vocational training to women desperate to provide
a better life for their families. Particular attention is paid to the children of the women, who can receive schooling, meals and a safe refuge to be with caring staff members. Within the safety and security of these shelters, the children learn that they are loved, protected by God, and can 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 freed.
Selma enrolled her daughter in school at The Salvation Army Aruna Girls Home to ensure her safety, and it was there that the staff motivated Selma to take computer classes. She was soon hired by The Salvation Army as an outreach worker for the drop-in center where she regularly visits women working in the brothels and in their homes, and conducts meetings.
Her goal is to help trafficked women find solutions to their issues through Salvation Army programs. Selma takes joy in offering prayer and counseling to them.
“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 said.
Now with five children of her own, she is grateful for the love, safety, and education they are receiving through the drop-in center and Aruna Girls Home.
And where outsiders might see despair, Selma sees a silver lining.
“I see so much hope in the red light district. 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. My only hope was that we could receive food for the night, but we slept hungry many nights. Outside on the streets, there was fighting. 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 with help from Salvation Army personnel. “Because of the staff there, I was able to understand why school is so important to my future. Through their support, I recently 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. By counseling, conducting prayer meetings and overseeing their school studies, Rehman is helping them prepare for the future.
“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.”
Aruna
Banished from her husband’s family after his untimely death, Aruna was 25 and out of options when she moved into her sister’s house in the red light district and began cleaning houses.
“The brothel owners would often tempt me to come into the profession saying I would make more money than cleaning houses,” she said.
With three children to care for, amounting stress and fatigue moved her to consider suicide. “But one day The Salvation Army visited my sister’s house. They offered prayer and a place for my children to learn at the drop-in center. They gave me a job to cook for the children at the center, which has helped me provide food and shelter for my own family.”
Her sons and daughter reside at The Salvation Army shelters nearby, where they are protected, being educated, and attending Sunday school. Through her job with The Salvation Army, Aruna has saved and paid installments on a four-bedroom house outside of the city.
“I used to never accept love because I was rejected by my family, but now as I am working at the drop-in center, I receive so much love from the children of mothers who work in the district. I am now loving others and receiving love,” she said.
With financial support from The Salvation Army, Aruna pursued healthcare training which has allowed her to offer counseling and support to women trapped in the red light district.
“God is faithful to me. I have an identity in Christ and I want to shield women and children by helping them build a foundation for their lives. I want them to learn to love like I have learned.”
Meena
Originally from Nepal, Meena came to Mumbai at 13 years old and began working in a brothel washing clothing and cleaning houses.
“One day when I was working, I found a baby girl lying in the street. I decided to care for her. As she grew, I learned she was unable to speak – even still, she became my daughter. Her name is Asha,” she said.
Meena enrolled Asha in the drop-in center where Salvation Army staff helped her find a school and encouraged her to learn despite the disability. Meena also participates in The Salvation Army’s self-help program where she works with a savings group and has learned how to sew and create garments as a sustainable source of income.
“So many women in the red light district are asking how they can come out of prostitution. I want to be an example for them; that they too can come out of the brothels. I believe that if we all work hard together, united with The Salvation Army, we can actively fight prostitution.”
