“LIFT” : Upholding Lives to Carry on Lasting Freedom
"LIFE / LEARN / LIFT" is a special three-part story that recounts the life of a person who overcame the trauma of sexual trafficking. LIFT highlights the importance of justice in uplifting their lives and restoring them to a beautiful state of strength once again.
*The names of the characters and places in this story are not their real names, but they are inspired by the true story of a survivor whom LIFT assisted.
No matter where you currently are at in the fight against human trafficking, the LIFT team is here to inspire and uplift you with our compelling stories of supporting lives like Fai's*[1]. Whether you're part of an organization, in the government, a supporter, a frontline worker, or a member of society, it's essential to recognize that you hold powerful resources in your hands to redress the injustice faced by those oppressed by human trafficking.
[1] Click to read “Fai’s story”, “LIFE: Seeing through her eyes” and "Learn" Through “Her” Life .
Fai's once tearful past has been transformed into a beacon of hope. She has taken a significant step forward, by establishing a house church in her hometown, a place plagued by pervasive poverty and the looming threat of sexual trafficking.
"In my village, there's a lot of poverty. Most kids only get to study until grade 7. After they finish primary school, boys might get into drugs, and girls could end up in child marriages or even being forced into trafficking. Even though proper education seems hard for them, my home church and His words can be like a light to show them the way." Fai shared.
As we support human trafficking survivors on their journey towards justice and recovery, they themselves become the essential factor for triumph. The true success of the anti-trafficking mission belongs to the survivors; our role is that of a helper, lifting them from despair and hopelessness.
The scourge of human trafficking imposes both physical and mental suffering on its survivors. This is particularly evident in cases of sexual trafficking, where abusive experiences become ingrained in their very souls, leaving behind a profound trauma.
The illustration above shows the house church in Fai's community.
“The healing process must be uniquely crafted and tailored to align with the unique requirements of each individual’s needs. In Fai’s instant, a pivotal factor was extending a helping hand, allowing her to reignite the faith in God she had previously lost (even though I am a non-believer). In her circumstance, neither medication nor therapy could hold a candle to the One in whom she believed—the true hero guiding her journey to recovery and triumph.”
Earlier this year, the LIFT team was blessed with the wonderful opportunity to meet her, experience the profound beauty of her life, and visit her house church. This encounter led us to a resounding realization: her current state warrants a shift away from being labelled a survivor to embracing a normal life without a shadow of a doubt.
Our team has returned with insights into signs that indicate survivors have triumphed over their traumatic experiences and are now ready to embrace a new life. Through this case study, here are the three observations we discovered:
Three signs that a survivor has triumphed over trauma and embraced a new life
Narrating the Past with a Forward-Thinking Attitude
To support human trafficking survivors, our team works diligently to prevent re-traumatization. In Fai's case, her trauma manifested itself in physical symptoms; she experienced convulsions and even lost consciousness while giving her testimony in court. Nonetheless, we have noticed a significant change – she now has the strength to confront her past with a powerful drive. Her aim is to inspire others to maintain hope until they find light amidst life's challenges.
"In the past, I didn't want to retell my story because it brought back a lot of suffering and held me back from the hope of overcoming it. But now, this past story has become an inspirational testimony. Every time I share it, there is a powerful drive that moves my heart to do so, for the presence of God is woven into my story." - said Fai
2. Living with an Empowered Purpose Rooted in Belief
Everyone lives a life shaped by certain beliefs, and whatever you believe will affect how you see yourself and the world around you, influencing your choices. As we met many survivors, their broken lives affected their faith to pursue good reasons to live. The turning point for transcending past traumas varies for each one's journey.
At LIFT, we engage in the process of deep listening to identify the cornerstones in their lives—whether it's family, religion, or other factors. This step enables us to offer the necessary support in line with a victim-centered approach, helping them rebuild their lives upon these essential foundations.
This is Fai's statement about her turning point from a consciousness of victimization to triumph:
"The image in my mind is of Jesus walking before me along a difficult path. He carried the cross as he walked, enduring suffering and stumbling multiple times. However, he always made an effort to rise again and continue, because of His great love for me. This love has upheld me to never give up, just like Jesus did for me."- said Fai
3. Sharing Past Obstacles to Inspire and Support
From the inspirational ground that has been rebuilt for Fai, it produces opportunities to impact those around her. Particularly shielding them from the risks of human trafficking circumstances like those in her past.
"Today, my heart longs to help the kids in my community who don't have enough food and chances to study. These challenges expose them to various risks. Lately, I could lend a hand to a lady in my village who was going through something like what I went through before. When I saw her, it brought back memories of my own hard times when I got assistance from P'Chu. I still remember clearly the days when I had nobody else to go to except P’ Chu. So, I passed on that same kindness to the lady."- said Fai
Together we LIFT them up
Amidst the challenges on the journey to help survivors recover, there are many lives still needing our care. We have discovered that survivors face hardships during the extended recovery process just as difficult as the crisis of initially removing them. There will be days filled with resilience, as well as days filled with challenges as they strive to rebuild their lives once again.
Sharing survivor stories with those who follow and support LIFT's mission means a lot more than just providing updates about the impact we have had. It's also a touching moment for our survivors when they realize that their life stories could inspire other people and are incredibly valuable to kind-hearted individuals like you.
“Knowing that someone is looking at my life right now, makes me feel the value of my life and motivates me to navigate through challenging times.”
Because of you, we are weaving a legacy of freedom that can positively impact others, just as Fai's life has. The essence of LIFT's mission aligns perfectly with its name "LIFT" – symbolizing optimism, upliftment, and a results-driven approach. This embodies being the light of inspiration while effectively addressing human trafficking issues with determination.