**In this story, the survivor’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
Two years ago, Our Rescue worked alongside authorities to help dismantle an international trafficking ring preying on vulnerable women from Latin America and Africa. The traffickers lured them to Greece with false promises of a better life, only to trap them in hotels under constant surveillance, where they were forced into sexual exploitation and subjected to horrific living conditions.
The criminal operation was highly organized, with a team of “employees” including transportation coordinators, security personnel, hotel owners, an office manager, and telephone operators, all complicit in facilitating the abuse. It required an immense and coordinated effort to take down this network, bringing together law enforcement agencies and NGOs from around the world, including Colombian Police, Greek Police, HSI Athens, the U.S. Embassy, A21, and Our Rescue.
On the evening of February 16, 2023, law enforcement officers executed the operation across Attica, Greece. They arrested eight members of the criminal ring and rescued 15 survivors.
One of the survivors was a woman, “Sofia,” who initially declined our support. She then made her way to Germany, hoping for a fresh start and, tragically, she was exploited again. Courageously, Sofia reached back out to Our Rescue for help. Our team didn’t hesitate—connected her with one of our trusted partner organizations in Germany. Together, we carefully discussed her options, and we secured her safe passage back to her home country.
How She Made Her Dreams Come True
Once home, Sofia felt empowered to create a new life. She decided to pursue a nail technician course, a decision that sparked a new sense of hope and purpose. We funded her education and provided all the tools she needed to succeed—manicure sets, cleaning kits, and everything else required for her to begin this new chapter. Additionally, donor support covered her rent for several months as she rebuilt her life after she lost her money to fabricated fines imposed by traffickers in Greece.
Just recently, Sofia shared the exciting news that she opened her own beauty salon and thanked us for funding the vocational training that gave her the skills and confidence to start her business. We are so proud of Sofia and grateful she trusted us to support her healing journey.
Sofia’s story is a powerful reminder: every survivor’s journey takes a different pathway.
These moments of success reaffirm why we do this work: Every survivor has a dream of a better life and with the support of our donors, these dreams can come true.