When I met Dara*, I wasn’t prepared to see my own daughter in her. But Dara is 14, just like my girl.
Her backpack was exactly the same – the same color, the same keychain clipped to the zipper. Her room felt so familiar with bold wallpaper, a stack of books, and a test she’d proudly taped to the wall.
Dara smiled brightly when she talked about her friends and barely withheld an eye roll when asked about chores.
She was, in every way, a teenager.
And that’s what broke me.
Because while my daughter is surrounded by people who look out for her, Dara faced danger lurking behind a screen…danger that found her when she had no one to protect her.
At just 14, Dara was exploited online. In an instant, her childhood was shattered.
This is every parent’s nightmare.Â
Because no child should ever experience abuse. But Dara did. And so do millions of other children every year.
And any one of them could have been my daughter, or yours.
But here is what I do know: Our compassion is the most powerful thing in the world.
Dara is safe today because generous people stepped in and ensured her freedom. Compassionate people took action and gave Dara a safe home to heal, trauma counseling to rebuild her confidence, and legal support every step of the way.
When you support Hagar, you help create a world where children like Dara, and our own children, are safe and free.
*pseudonym
Director of Fundraising & Communications
Hagar | USA Office