Winter 2024
As a young girl, Yara fled with her family from her war-torn home country. They endured weary miles of walking to reach safety as Yara struggled with trauma. Her life as she knew it was over, and she was far from her home.
Yara and her family now live as refugees in a new country. They live in a tent community and struggle for daily survival. Now a teen, Yara had a new threat to her safety: her parents were forcing her to marry an older cousin. Yara felt trapped and silenced, unable to choose whether or not to marry.
Yara heard about She Is Safe’s cosmetology training in the camp and felt a spark of hope for the first time in a long time. She wondered if this was how she could generate income and not have to marry before she was an adult. She was excited at the prospect of learning something new and pursuing her dreams. The training was challenging, but she worked at it with all her heart, eager to absorb everything she could. And Yara succeeded. She learned so much, feeling empowered and capable for the first time in her life.
Yara’s dream of starting her own business is finally within her reach, and she has a sense of hope and determination she has never experienced before. She helped her parents see that she is capable of gaining skills, making her own decisions and creating a life for herself. With her newfound skills and knowledge, she is filled with a sense of pride and independence that make her feel like anything is possible. She believes in a future of freedom for herself, and she knows that with God’s help, she can handle any challenge that comes her way.
Being a refugee girl meant that Lydia’s education was disrupted. Her limited education left her at high risk of being trafficked – sold into marriage.
Lydia began to envision freedom when she completed her first project in She Is Safe’s sewing training. Her feeling of accomplishment was unlike anything she had experienced before. She had taken scraps of fabric and transformed them into something useful and beautiful that she could be proud of. It was as if she had finally found her place in the world, where she could learn, grow and be appreciated for who she was. The kindness and support of her peers and teachers were invaluable to her, and she felt she had gained not just a skill, but a community of sisters who support and look out for each other. But the most significant impact of the sewing class was the sense of hope it gave Lydia. For the first time in her life, she felt she had a future where she could use her newfound skills to create a better life for herself and her family. She is filled with excitement at the prospect of one day opening her own business and sharing her love of sewing with others. She envisions a future of dignity and freedom.
Mary is a refugee who fled the war in South Sudan and now lives in Uganda. She joined a She Is Safe Group several years ago, where she acquired savings, lending and business skills in addition to a supportive community. Mary started her own food business, and she took out a loan from the group to purchase a refrigerator for it. Her business has done so well, she was able to pay off the loan with her profits, as well as send her oldest daughter to her first year of college. Mary has been generous with other refugee women, taking them in, feeding them, and helping them get on her feet. Mary is changing the lives of those around her in addition to her own, keeping women and girls at high risk of trafficking and abuse safe, free and equipped.
Message from Our Founder
Every 2 seconds a girl is given or sold into a child marriage. An average of 40,000 girls are married each day. This is around 15 million each year according to UNICEF. This is a form of human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and has devastating effects on a child’s health, freedom and development.
Refugee women and girls are at extremely high risk of being abused and sold. They flee their home countries with nothing and struggle to survive in a country that is foreign to them. They are exceptionally vulnerable to those who would take advantage of them. The refugees we work with are at especially high risk of being trafficked into child marriage. Girls in these desperate families are seen as burdens, and families seek relief by selling their daughters to much older men. Uneducated and unskilled, these girls are trapped, silenced and see no way to freedom. And that is why your partnership is so important. You provide freedom through opportunities that prevent the sale of vulnerable girls.
You partner with us to help families see the value of their daughters as their girls gain a host of new skills and mindsets – educational, vocational, anti-trafficking awareness, and God’s view of their worth. These women and girls are changing their families and others as they gain new sources of income and pathways to freedom. Many of the women in these programs feel a sense of purpose and hope for the first time in their lives. What a powerful gift!
Thank you for changing the most vulnerable lives in the hardest places with your generous support. You are having a crucial impact in high-risk communities across the world!
God bless you and your family in 2024 and beyond,
Michele M. Rickett
Founder & CEO
Tips for Parents of Teens
1. Monitor social media accounts.
In the US, the majority of traffickers find their victims through social media, especially visual sites like Instagram. Photos that appear innocent to parents can often attract the attention of sex trafficking recruiters. Keep accounts set to “private” at all times. Have continuous discussions with your kids about online safety.
2. Make sure your teen never goes alone.
Teenagers who are alone in malls, movie theaters, skating rinks, etc. are a top target for traffickers. This is particularly important when traveling. Coach your child to be aware of their surroundings and any person who stares at or follows them.
3. Create a secret code word or phrase.
For example, “I’m fine” or I’m ok” really means, “I am not ok! I need help!” Teens may have gone willingly only to realize they are now in a really dangerous situation. Discuss what you should do if the secret phrase is used: have a follow-up text ready? Call the police?
4. Discuss how traffickers target victims.
Young people 8-14 years old are the most desired commodity to sex traffickers. Demand tight controls and open transparency with any online interactions, including video games.
5. Teach children to watch their drinks.
Recruiters are known to infiltrate parties and drug victims. Teach children to never leave a beverage or food unattended.
6. Install GPS tracking.
GPS tracking and location services can be acquired from your cell phone carrier. Trackers can also be installed on a teen’s car, so that you or authorities can locate them.
Raising awareness near and far is essential. To sponsor Abuse Prevention Training for your group and help at-risk children across the globe, contact info@sheissafe.org.
