How Your Support Changes Lives: Sanvi's story

Sanvi is 17 years old and grew up in a remote area of Bihar, Northern India. After the death of her parents during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Sanvi went to live with her aunt where she was forced to discontinue her studies in order to help with household chores. Sanvi experienced mental and physical abuse in her aunt’s home and was desperate to escape.

Rajesh, a friend of her aunt, took advantage of the vulnerable situation that Sanvi found herself in. He approached Sanvi with an offer to join his family as an adopted sister. Sanvi agreed to the proposition, relieved to be leaving her aunt’s home.

Rajesh took Sanvi to Mangalore city where he then forced her into sex slavery and sold her to an illegal brothel network.

Our Indian grassroots partner, Odanadi, worked alongside the local police force to rescue Sanvi. Rajesh was taken into police custody and is under investigation for his crimes. Sanvi has been provided with safe shelter and is receiving therapeutic support through counselling to help her come to terms with her trauma. Sanvi is also receiving ongoing legal support and she hopes to start her vocational training soon to become a beautician and rebuild her life.

We are very proud to support our Indian grassroots partner, Odanadi, in helping end such heinous crimes and support the rescue and rehabilitation of young survivors of human trafficking. To find out more or to support Adventure Ashram’s anti-human trafficking projects in India, please click here.

*Please note all names have been changed and Sanvi is not pictured to protect her identity.