“A lot of people go abroad for work. And a lot of people get trafficked into a circus.”
Our partner in Nepal, WOSCC (The Women Skill Creation Centre) creates jobs and nurtures local industry so women can be self sufficient—and not fall prey to traffickers, as they look for opportunities abroad. Based in Makawanpur, Nepal, a hot bed for human trafficking, WOSCC helps rehabilitate women returned from slavery. Many have come to WOSCC from circus slavery in India.
Free the Slaves’ Director of Partnerships, Ginny Bauman spoke to a survivor, Rama (not her real name), about her experiences in circus slavery:
Rama seems embarrassed as she explains her decision to go with the trafficker to the circus: “There wasn’t enough food at home. I wanted to wear good clothes and eat good food, and the others were going. What do girls know at that age?”
Rama, we’ve changed her name to protect her privacy, was 12 when she left her village with the woman who offered her a way out of the harsh and hungry life in rural Nepal. Seven years later, she argued with the circus owner to let her leave, she and other girls joining together against the threats and blows that came their way when they demanded their freedom.
WOSCC is just one of many partners Free the Slaves works with. We work with liberators on the frontlineswho risk their lives to bring slaves to freedom. Yes, they literally knock down doors and help slaves escape. But they also help survivors rebuild their lives, and work for systemic solutions. Read more about our partnerships here.
