Asha (19) is one of the young women we intercepted from human trafficking. She was born in a big, yet financially handicapped family. Having been born in a family like that, Asha is all the more determined to pursue education and later, financial security. She completed her schooling up to 12th grade in a public school. However, there are many graduates like her in her village. The gap between job opportunities for newly graduated job seekers is quite huge, making it difficult for her to land a job.

Now jobless, Asha had nothing better to do than care for her younger siblings, and sometimes do manual labor work in construction. She was continuously pressured by her family to get married, to ease the financial burdens they already have. This does not mean that Asha must marry rich, rather it was a way for her to move out—leaving her parents with fewer mouths to feed.

Asha never felt more behind in life, and it does not help that she knows of friends who migrated abroad and are not making a good amount of money. With all this pressure going on in Asha’s mind, she began becoming desperate about bettering her situation. One day, one of those friends reached out to her and knew about her job-seeking interests. This friend excitedly told her of an opportunity that could make NPR 30,000 (USD 219) monthly! The thought of it excited her, and she did not want to waste the precious opportunity.

Three Nepali women training on how to use computers
WSH beneficiaries in their computer training class

The friend promised to take care of all her migration requirements. The friend also asked for payment, which Asha happily agreed to give. But on the day of her departure, the friend was uncontactable—clearly running away with her money. Now even more desperate, Asha still wanted to pursue her plan of migrating without a job offer yet, so she went to India.

Our field officer found her and learned about her situation. He sent her to our safe haven in Pokhara to receive computer training to enhance her skills. Hopefully, new skills will make her more attractive to reputable hiring managers, and not deceptive beings.

Asha stayed in the Women’s Safe Haven and Vocational Center (WSH) for a while and was later reunited with her family due to her aunt’s passing.

Woman with faced blurred for privacy
Asha

 


 

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