In a country where close to 30% of the population are living below the poverty line, the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development estimates that there are up to 200,000 children on the streets of Manila, and that at least one tenth are or become victims of human trafficking. They also estimate that the annual average increase of prostituted children is 3,266 per year. Tragically, the Philippines ranks fourth in the world in terms of countries with the highest number of prostituted children (humantrafficking.org Philippines). It’s effect on the innocence of impoverished children is heart-breaking.
Olivia [name changed for privacy and protection] was forced by her own mother into prostitution to help support her younger siblings. When she got pregnant and her mother was put in prison, she was referred to The Blessed House. There was a time she would sneak out of the shelter and go back to prostitution because that’s her only way of providing for her baby and siblings. After much counselling, being surrounded by a loving and supportive community, Olivia has shown much growth. Recently, her baby celebrated her 2nd birthday. Staff are seeing her increasingly making better choices for her and her daughter’s lives. She is seeking to be a good mom and sister to her younger siblings. With what she learned in the sewing program, she made a Snow White dress for her daughter. These pictures encourages us how the cycle of abuse can be broken and replaced with a life of dignity.
The Blessed House is currently the home to 19 young women and children who are all survivors of trafficking and abuse. The Blessed House is providing them with safety, education and a bright future. Thank you to those who support this amazing project. Because of you, dignity and restoration is available to women and children.
Our Partners
One of our projects in the Philippines is the Blessed House project wherein we rescue and journey with women and children who have been victims of human trafficking and cybersex crimes. As we close this project this year, we are transitioning these girls to a life of hope and restoration.
One...
20 SHARES
After the court’s decision on the OSEC case of Rachel, May and Kat (names changed for their privacy), our field partner in the Philippines, HONOR 1000, immediately worked on the final procedures of their reintegration from the Blessed House to the community.
We made sure to coordinate with local...
10 SHARES
We just received reports that after Rachel, May, Kat (names changed for privacy) testified against their mother in court, the judge convicted the accused guilty of trafficking her own children. This is such a roller coaster of emotions for our Blessed trainees: the anticipation, the relief that finally their legal case is moving forward, the nervousness,...
28 SHARES
One of our reintegrated young women from the Blessed House in the Philippines, has won her case against her perpetrator! The judge convicted the accused guilty of trafficking and child pornography. He will be imprisoned for 15 years, as well as required to pay for moral damages to her. When Ria (name changed for privacy) was reintegrated, she received threats and...
8 SHARES
One of the many ways we help Blessed Project Trainees in their reintegration is through family therapy. With the assistance of our social worker, we let the children and parents talk about their issues in the family that might have contributed to the children’s victimization.
<...59 SHARES
When a young woman is rescued from human trafficking, the road to recovery is a long and challenging one for many – emotionally scared and broken from un-imaginable abuse. This is where the “Blessed” program steps in to fill a...
61 SHARES
