Things were just starting to look up for Kimmy (name changed). After being rescued from human trafficking, she was given the opportunity to attend a 12-week business program with one of our aftercare partners. In early 2019, she successfully graduated from the program and gained the skills she needed to start her own business!
However, shortly after completing the program, she was met with a new set of challenges: having just started her business, gangs began to extort Kimmy, threatening to hurt her and her family if she didn’t give them at least 50% of her small-business earnings and possessions.
Changing Course
As the year progressed, Kimmy recognized that working in an office building was safer than running a food stand on the street, so she began devoting her evenings and weekends to taking classes and learning skills so she could become a secretary.
Finding the Resources
But then came yet another setback: Kimmy needed some resources to successfully complete the class. Before the school year began that Fall, she sent a message to O.U.R. Aftercare Assistant Tyler Schwab for some help. Knowing she couldn’t afford a laptop, Kimmy asked for money to help buy a typewriter so she could complete assignments and take notes.
Imagining Kimmy typing notes on an outdated typewriter next to her classmates, Tyler Schwab smiled and was quick to respond: “We are not going to help you get a typewriter. We are going to help you get a laptop. You deserve all the tools you need to complete this class!”
With her new laptop in tow, Kimmy is close to finishing her class and looks forward to entering the workforce as a secretary. We are grateful to our generous donors who help these survivors flourish in aftercare.
