by Dean Beveridge (Chairman of the Board of Captivating International)
Sending my daughter across international borders to work? Each year around this time I reflect on how blessed I am that I was born in Australia and can enjoy my family as they grow up in safety and relative affluence. I try, as much as I can, to imagine what life is like for fathers who love their children as much as I do but were not so lucky with their birth place. I have a daughter who is about to turn 13. She gives me incredible joy and I love her very much. This Christmas my dilemma is what to buy her and where will we go for our annual holidays. Do I buy her an iPad, new clothes or some sporting equipment? These holidays will we go water skiing or surfing? The pressure is on.
During 2015, I travelled to Nepal to visit our human trafficking work. While travelling I spent some time talking to a father of a teenage girl. His dilemma is vastly different to mine. He is struggling to provide for his family and is considering allowing his 13 year old daughter to travel to India to work and earn money to help the family. What an incredible contrast. My problem – surfing or water skiing, iPad or sporting equipment. His problem – whether his daughter will cross the border at the risk of becoming a victim of the sex industry in India.
I discussed this dilemma with my daughter and we have decided to join with this Nepali father to see if we can make a difference. For around $100 we can intercept and rescue a girl the same age as my daughter. For $300 we can provide a micro loan to help a family like that of this man establish an enterprise to increase his income to avoid the trafficking of his children. Well that has solved my dilemma. This Christmas we can all make a difference. Maybe forgoing one gift each would lead to the gift of life for a daughter of Nepal. Will you join with us this Christmas season?
If you would like to help Captivating fight against human trafficking and give girls and their families a brighter future, contact andrewc@captivating.org or juliec@captivating.org.
(Photo – Dean walking through the streets of Nepal, seeing the struggles families have each day)
Cielo's (name changed for privacy) family worked on farmlands owned by others and were very poor, so her parents sent her to her aunt in Hetauda where she completed high school. Her family is from Dhading and now she is 23 years old.
As soon...
60 SHARES
Barkha (name changed for privacy) was rescued in 2022 and taken to Women’s Safe Haven (WSH), a safe place run by our implementing partner, 3 Angels Nepal. WSH provides shelter, counseling, and support to women in desperate need. As part of her rehabilitation here, she has completed the initial tailoring...
18 SHARES
Two sisters were transferred from Kathmandu to our Women's Safe Haven because they were victims of sexual abuse and internal trafficking.
57 SHARES
Bhuvi was intercepted at the border. An investigation concluded the pimp had established a fake relationship with her, and proposed to marry her and give her a prosperous life in India.
During the interview, after she realized she was being sold, she revealed the pimp’s name and a suspected pimp...
51 SHARES
Our hearts swell with pride when we see our beneficiaries give back to their community. This is Achal*, she has spent some time at the Women's Safe Haven is now reintegrated back to the community. Today, she runs her own tailoring shop and is now teaching seven women in her shop.
23 SHARES
Sharmila was brought to the Women’s Safe Haven (WSH) 7 years ago. During her time of healing and rehabilitation, she learned the skill of tailoring.
Now, she has her own tailoring shop and is doing well sewing clothes and earning a sustainable living. She earns Rps 2,000 to 2,500 [US$16-20] per day and even...
42 SHARES
