Two girls, Bonnie*(24) and Ana* (20), defied their parents’ decision to marry them off. Both girls have different dreams for their future, so they head to Kathmandu to find decent jobs with their high school education. Bonnie was a receptionist and a bill handler at a restaurant, while Ana was a waitress. The two girls’ dreams of a better future never stopped, so they still sought better job opportunities even with the jobs they currently have.

A few months after settling in Kathmandu, Bonnie met a Facebook friend. He mentioned a job center that could help them seek employment locally and abroad. He asked her to meet up with him, bring her friend, Ana; and bring some money for fees to fill out forms at a restaurant. He said his office was closed due to building repairs, which sounded reasonable to both women.

After a few days, they were asked to take a three-month housekeeping training and were promised a job in Cyprus with a reasonable salary. The job center would process all their visa and requirements, and they were asked to pay NPR25,000 each (US$185) and hand over their passports. They never heard from the man again after that.

Upon realizing the deception, they contacted the authorities to file a complaint against the man. They were provided with legal guidance and counseling by our local program partner team in Nepal on trafficking to aid them in avoiding similar situations in the future.

Bonnie and Ana’s situation is more common than you think, especially in poverty-stricken families. The work we do at Captivating International aims to help vulnerable women and girls like them prevent exploitation and human trafficking.