As part of Free the Slaves’ Community Liberation Initiative, a two-day training on Module 2: Liberation, Care, and Rehabilitation was held on September 9–10, 2025, for survivor leaders of Azad Shakti Abhiyan (ASA). A total of 12 survivor leaders participated in this session.
The training series, launched in August 2025, aims to strengthen survivor leaders’ capacity and understanding of how to combat modern slavery by building resilient communities. Module 2 covered key topics including liberation, care and reintegration, rights-based and trauma-informed approaches, victim identification, and rehabilitation.
This initiative is not only an investment in individual learning but also a decisive step toward dismantling modern slavery from its roots at the community level. Survivor leaders, with their lived experience of exploitation, are uniquely positioned to understand traffickers’ tactics, community vulnerabilities, and barriers to reintegration.
By equipping them with structured knowledge, practical tools, and trauma-sensitive approaches, the training has strengthened their ability to identify victims early, conduct safe and dignified rescues, and support survivor-centered rehabilitation. Emphasizing rights-based and trauma-informed care ensures that survivor leaders are equipped to restore dignity and empower others. Their strengthened leadership allows Azad Shakti Abhiyan to grow as a survivor-led platform that supports peers and advocates for systemic change.
By building the capacity of survivors themselves, this training contributes to a sustainable, grassroots-driven response to modern slavery. Survivor leaders are now better prepared to challenge exploitative systems, guide vulnerable individuals toward safety, and influence policy with authenticity and authority. As survivors grow into leaders, they transform personal resilience into collective strength—ensuring that the fight against modern slavery remains rooted in lived experience.
“This training has given me a clearer understanding of how to support other survivors in a more effective way. Learning about trauma-informed care, victim identification, and the reintegration process has made me realize how important it is to approach each case differently depending on the need and sensitivity of the case. As a leader of Azad Shakti Abhiyan, I feel more confident that I can guide my community, prevent re-exploitation, and stand stronger in advocacy. This experience will truly enhance the quality of our work as a collective, because now we have the tools to not just speak from our lived experiences, but also to act with informed strategies that can bring real change.”
— Mr. Chhotai, Survivor Leader, Bhadohi
Mr. Chhotai has already begun applying his new knowledge to community mobilization. Together with his ASA team, he has started preparing a training session for his community—showing how survivor leadership continues to multiply its impact far beyond the training room.
