How Your Support Changes Lives: Pinky's Story

Our Indian grassroots partner, Odanadi, informed us of the worrying trend of trafficking criminals taking advantage of the school closures during Covid-19 to target vulnerable young people.

Pinky was 14 years old and living with her father and mother in Mysuru, South India. She enjoyed school and excelled in her studies. When Pinky’s school temporarily closed due to local lockdown restrictions, she stayed home alone whilst her parents went to work. It was during this time that a criminal gang member targeted Pinky and began to follow her when she left the family home. He orchestrated a relationship with Pinky, gradually gained her confidence and promised to marry her. The gang member started to visit Pinky at home every day whilst her parents were at work. Pinky was sexually abused during these visits and the gang member took explicit photographs and videos of her that he later used as blackmail.

Under the threat of having her images shared, Pinky was forced into prostitution and taken to illegal brothels where she was repeatedly sexually exploited.

With the support of our grassroots partner, Odanadi, Pinky’s abuser has been brought to justice and is currently serving a jail sentence for his crimes. Odanadi supported Pinky in accessing counselling to help her process her traumatic experiences and helped to educate her family about the dangers of trafficking gangs. Pinky has started to rebuild her life and returned to school in the 10th grade.

We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to our partners at Odanadi for helping support young survivors, like Pinky, to heal after such a traumatic experience and for playing a crucial role in bringing trafficking gang members to justice. If you would like to support the rescue and rehabilitation of young survivors of human trafficking in India, please consider becoming a regular donor by clicking here. Even a donation as small as £5 a month can make the world of difference.

*Please note Pinky’s name has been changed to protect her identity.