Stories of Hope | Hagar USA

LIFT and Hagar Unite in the Fight Against Slavery

LIFT International joins Hagar International to free more victims of trafficking, slavery and exploitation. Human trafficking and modern-day slavery continue to threaten vulnerable people every day. Over the past five years, exploitation and abuse have not decreased but grown significantly so that today, 50 million people – the population of California and Georgia combined – are victims of human trafficking and forced labor around the world. With these dire numbers in mind,

Cambodian Leaders Trained to Prevent Trafficking

Imagine if we could stop human trafficking before it starts. That’s the goal of Hagar’s prevention programs. Recently in Cambodia, our frontline team trained 51 local leaders to recognize and prevent human trafficking. The training sessions drew a diverse crowd including community council members and police officers. “I never knew the meaning of modern slavery and how to help our community members reduce their vulnerability to human trafficking and slavery and exploitation,” said

Supporter Spotlight – Tim Lee

Hagar’s work is only possible because of the dedication and compassion of our donors. Each month we profile a supporter who, through their generosity, is helping to bring healing and hope to survivors around the world. Tim Lee, Monthly Donor 1. Tell us a little about yourself – work, family, where you’re from, what you do in your spare time? Hello! My name is Tim and I’m from Southern California. I currently work

As Jacob heals, his love for learning grows

When Jacob* arrived at Hagar, he was sad and angry. He was only 12 years old but trauma was already etched on his face. Instead of warmth and safety, Jacob’s life at home was rife with violence and danger. The abuse and threats from his stepfather were severe and they happened almost every day. Jacob felt his only hope was to run away from home. In the middle of the night, Jacob

Ngan Hanh Blossoms After Trauma

Hagar pursues the highest degree of care and protection for each of its clients. To protect the identity of our clients, names have been changed and images do not necessarily represent the individual profiled.

Binh’s Journey to Independence

Used to the city’s most noisy and difficult place- the wholesale market since childhood, Binh forged herself to be tough, resilient and independent to survive in a harsh environment. But no matter how strong her voice was, her sound was mute at home. In her house, nothing could be heard except her husband’s cursing, shouting and beatings. Binh had interacted with Hagar before and after receiving support and advice, she thought she

Dang and her children find new hope

Like many girls who grew up in the Northern mountainous region, Dang did not receive family support for her education due to financial hardship. She always dreamed about wearing a uniform and going to school like other girls, however she found herself having to carry her family’s responsibilities at a very young age. Furthermore, lacking the ability to speak or write in the national Kinh language, Dan faced many difficulties and had

Dan’s Story of Healing

What would be the most precious moment in your life? For Dan, it was her reunion with her mother in Vietnam after 17 years of being trafficked in China. Dan’s father died when she was young, and her mother had to work hard to make ends meet for her family. Therefore, Dan always tried to find more work to help out her mother. Knowing Dan’s families’ struggles, their neighbor offered to help

From lost trust to hope – Minea’s Story

Minea (not her real name) is currently 22 years old and was born to a poor family in Phnom Penh. A few years ago, Minea quit her studies to work at a garment factory with her older sister to help support her family. In 2018, a “friend” preyed on her precarious family situation and trafficked her to China, via a network of brokers, on the pretense of marrying a nice man and

Tien has a bright future before her

Tien was trafficked from Vietnam to China at the young age of 16, where she was sold to 3 different Chinese men. Almost 2 years later, she managed to escape back to Vietnam but due to financial difficulties, she couldn’t continue her studies and instead, took up a job at her uncle’s coffee shop to make money. To make things worse, her hopes of things getting better were dashed as the people