31 children rescued in Uganda and on their paths to freedom

31 girls ages 14 to 17 have been rescued from sexual exploitation and joined our community care programs in Uganda

A major vulnerability shared by survivors in Uganda is an unstable home. It is not uncommon for a survivor to pass through numerous living situations involving different or absent guardians.

Of the 31 children rescued, only one child lived with both parents, and eight lived with a single parent. The rest were being cared for by relatives or lived on their own.

Our programs after rescue focus on a child’s unique situation to help her stay free. Our caseworkers and counselors might focus on repairing and strengthening strained family relationships. Older survivors are also able to learn vocational skills or do training on the job so they can afford rent with safe roommates.

Rescue Update Archive

20 Children Free from Sexual Exploitation

20 Rescued from Exploitation in Zimbabwe

While they all faced sexual exploitation, only one of them was being controlled by a trafficker.

Poverty drives vulnerability. All of those other girls were forced to sell their bodies just to provide for their families without a trafficker being involved at all. Some of them had sick parents and mounting medical bills. Some of their parents struggled with addiction. They all needed food for their families, and with no other options, they endured the unthinkable just to survive.

Now things are different for those kids. All of them enrolled in our care, where they’ll learn to move past the trauma they suffered while being equipped to live free.

These brave girls sacrificed so much for their families. Their road ahead will still be difficult, but after vocational training, they can join other survivors who’ve landed stable jobs or even become entrepreneurs. Best of all, they’ll walk that road in freedom.

Dominican man arrested for abusing an 8-year-old girl

A mother came to us after her 8-year-old daughter told her that while she was living with her stepmother, she was sexually abused by a family member.

When police contacted us about the case, our team conducted surveillance to identify the perpetrator.

The intel we gathered helped the police get a warrant. The perpetrator was arrested thanks to the team’s efforts and collaboration with local law enforcement. The survivor now lives under her mother’s custody, where she feels safe again.

9 Children Freed from Abusers and Traffickers

Nine children are finally safe after suffering sexual abuse or exploitation in the Dominican Republic.

Rescue agents helped our partners in law enforcement rescue one boy and one girl from sexual exploitation. The other seven children, including one 4-year-old, were all rescued from sex abuse situations as part of raid operations with police. All the children are now home safe.

15-year-old girl rescued in the Dominican Republic

A mother found out her daughter was being exploited for sex

Earlier this year, a mother in the Dominican Republic made a discovery so startling that she felt compelled to go straight to the police. Her 15-year-old daughter was in possession of something she shouldn’t have had. But it wasn’t alcohol or drugs or a gun that raised red flags for this concerned mom. It was money. Too much money. She knew her school-aged daughter didn’t get the money from her and had no way to earn that much on her own. Fearing the worst, she asked her daughter about it. The child’s answer confirmed her fears: a grown man had been paying her daughter for sex. Extra money—along with reclusive behavior, unexplained gifts and personality changes—is one of the signs that a child might be experiencing exploitation. Because this mother recognized the signs, she was able to ask for help before the predator could draw the girl away from her family.

Destiny Rescue agents helped authorities track down and arrest the predator so that he can’t exploit children anymore. The survivor, safe from his influence and abuse, is recovering with her family.

9 People Rescued in Zimbabwe

7 girls and 2 young women are free from sexual exploitation in Zimbabwe.

Desperation destroys choice: The children and two 18-year-olds had all been forced to sell themselves to survive. Now things are different.

All the survivors have entered our Community Care Program, where they’ll be equipped for independence and healing. Our caseworkers help the survivors move past their trauma while also addressing the vulnerabilities that led to their exploitation. Join us in celebrating their freedom!

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