Children shouldn't suffer this way
The stories that hit me hardest are of mums and dads causing hurt to their own child... stories of children being sent down painful paths no child should have to walk.
How are things going in the children's homes
The message that came straight back to me made me angry, cry and realize why we must keep serving. We do what we do because we believe all children, no matter what country they live in or what physical circumstances they’re facing, deserve to know they’re loved and special. Children should feel safe, they should live in situations where they can grow and become the people they were created to be. But why is it that sometimes the greatest challenges to this are the very people who should love them most.
I’m not going to show you an actual photo of this little girl, I’m sure you don’t need that to feel her pain. I can assure you that she is a beautiful little 9 year old child. No child deserves to be manipulated and put in physical danger in this way.
Project team members rescued the little girl, whom we’ll call M, from her own family. Her mother, trapped in the sex industry herself, already led her 14 year old daughter into the sex industry. The government authority came to know about this lady and brought M to us last month because the mother wanted to put her into the industry as well.
She tried several times to take her back, but we didn’t let her. Yesterday she went to the school and the mother kidnapped M. We searched everywhere for her till evening without success. When we had done all we could we went to the police and with a complaint notice in hand they went to her house. Their house is two hours from us. Thankfully the police found her there and we brought M back home.
She is so happy to come back with us where she feels safe and protected.
Why does this sort of thing happen?
There’s never an simple answer to this question, no matter what country we’re talking about. The core of issues like this come back to peoples disregard for others and only caring themselves.
There are estimated to be over 900,000 sex workers in India. Nearly 40% are believed to be children. Recent reports estimate that the number of children involved in prostitution is increasing at 8 to 10% per annum. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of women and children generates approximately 400 million US Dollars annually in the city of Mumbai alone.
The heart of my message to you isn’t to look into the causes but to say one simple thing…
Help is needed… it’s urgent
Lets not get caught up here with the cause, but consider little M, how can we help her and help others like her. Because there are many, many others. Most of our older girls in the children home in India have been in just this the same or similar situation as M.
Children don't know they are loved
Putting a photo of M here in a story which is so close to home seems to take advantage of an innocent little child. It should not take a photo of a little girl in a pink dress sitting on dirty, dusty stairs in a building somewhere painfully waiting for whatever comes next to make us act.
I’m relying on my words and the one symbolic image above being enough to encourage you to generously help us make a difference this Christmas. When our children are excitedly laughing and squealing as they tear apart the wrapping on Christmas presents, what will M be doing?
Not only for girls like M, but for girls and boys in the same situation in China, India or Indonesia where we serve. The country isn’t the issue. The children being hurt, who don’t know they’re loved, who don’t believe there’s anything special about them, are the issue.
Will you help?
Could you do something now to help, it’s really not complicated.
If you’re a person who prays please pray for M, for the other girls and boys in our care who have been traumatised in this way.
You can help financially. Sponsor a child (just $45 per month) or give a single or recurring donation. You’re not just helping one child, you’re sowing into future generations as we rescue and care for children today.
You can donate to help a child like M
Helping kids re-write life stories and turn around futures
