By Bernadette Agano
As a survivor, my life has been marked by resilience, trauma, and transformation. For years, I bore the weight of my past, unsure how to channel my experience into something meaningful. But today, I am privileged to stand as a survivor advocate, helping other survivors find their voices, redefine their futures, and join the fight against modern slavery.
When I escaped the chains of my trauma, I thought healing meant leaving everything behind and focusing only on a better future. Yet, over time, I realized that my experiences could serve as a bridge for others—victims still trapped in silence. I embraced my identity as a survivor not as a label of defeat but as a badge of courage and a testament to what is possible when we refuse to let our past define us.
For nearly two years of working with Free the Slaves in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), I have had the privilege not only to have a seat at the table but to bring chairs for other survivors to take their place. From participating in forums to share my input as a survivor, to contributing to drafting survivor recommendations for inclusion in the Alliance 8.7 roadmap, to ongoing training through the Survivor Leadership Academy, the pathway is now open for other survivors to follow in my footsteps and join the fight in the DRC.
Leadership training is more than teaching skills; it’s about rebuilding self-worth and empowering survivors to become advocates and change-makers. When survivors take the lead in fighting modern slavery and human trafficking, they bring unique insights and passion to the cause.
In training sessions, I emphasize the importance of inclusion and collective action. I encourage survivors to use their voices to influence policies, challenge harmful practices, and build safer communities. Their lived experiences make them powerful advocates, capable of achieving what others cannot.
Listening to survivors’ stories can be emotionally overwhelming. At times, their trauma mirrors my own, reigniting memories I thought I had left behind. I have learned to carry this weight as part of my journey. Together, we turn our shared pain into a shared purpose, and this solidarity makes the burden lighter.
When survivors tell me they want to become leaders like me, I remind them: You already are. The courage it takes to reclaim your story and step into the light is the foundation of leadership.
Each training session is a reminder that trauma does not have to silence us. Survivors from different walks of life—those who endured child labor, child exploitation, sex trafficking, and human trafficking—come together with shared stories and a common hope for a better future.
Seeing their transformation from victims to survivors, to survivor leaders and advocates, is profoundly humbling.
Today, a national network of survivors is being formed in the DRC, further solidifying our commitment to the cause. This development reinforces the idea that survivor inclusion in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking is gaining momentum, built on the foundation of survivors who are not just witnesses but active change-makers driving transformation.
💡 Your support makes journeys like Bernadette’s possible. $500 funds leadership training that empowers survivors to lead. $1800 funds a survivor’s participation in the Survivor Leadership Academy.
Donate Today!
Ending 2024 with Action: The Fight in the DRC
The Democratic Republic of Congo faces significant challenges in the fight against modern slavery. It is home to vulnerable populations, where child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking remain pervasive.
Key Statistics:
- An estimated 870,000 people in the DRC are trapped in modern slavery (Global Slavery Index 2023).
- Child labor is prevalent, with children exploited in mining, agriculture, and domestic work.
- Women and girls are disproportionately affected, often trafficked for domestic servitude or sexual exploitation.
Bernadette’s work through Free the Slaves and the Survivor Leadership Academy addresses these systemic issues. By equipping survivors with leadership and advocacy tools, the initiative creates lasting change, both at the grassroots and policy levels.
Why Survivor Leadership Matters:
- Survivors like Bernadette bring authenticity and expertise to the fight against trafficking.
- Networks like the DRC’s national survivor network ensure survivor voices are central to policy-making.
- Leadership training transforms survivors from isolated victims to empowered advocates.
These efforts are turning the tide against exploitation, but the work is far from over.
Urgency for the Final Days of 2024
As the year ends, the need for action has never been more urgent. Each day, survivors in the DRC face unimaginable challenges. Your support today can ensure that survivors like Bernadette continue to lead the way toward a future free from exploitation.
Your End-of-Year Gift Can:
- Fund leadership training for survivors
- Build national survivor networks to amplify voices
- Support survivor-led advocacy programs
With only a few days left in 2024, this is the moment to stand with survivors and invest in a future where freedom and dignity are within reach for everyone.
💡 Donate Today and help us expand programs in the DRC and beyond in 2024.
Together, we can end this year with hope, progress, and freedom!
