End of trafficking - beginning of life?

WorldShare's newest partnership is with a ministry committed to freeing women trapped in the sex trade in Moldova...

Imagine a 16-year-old girl, alone except for her baby, living in terrible conditions. Imagine she has already been a prostitute for 6 years. Imagine she was sold into that terrible trade by her parents – betrayed by those who should have protected her.

She is afraid for her younger sisters. She is afraid that all of them will be kidnapped and forcibly sent 1000 miles to the West to be further abused. What will become of her child? What will become of her?

This is the stark situation facing thousands of young women in Moldova, as a WorldShare staff member found on a recent visit to our newest partners, ‘Beginning of Life'. Their commitment is “To restore God’s original intent for His creation, simultaneously transforming people physically and spiritually, restoring them in society.”

Tens of thousands of young Moldovans have been sold as slaves for the sex trade in Western European cities and further afield. $2000 or less buys a young girl for the rest of her unhappy life. The evil in British society, and that of neighbouring countries, is stealing the lives of many young Moldovans.

The Moldovan context is that of Europe’s poorest country. Extreme poverty and high rates of alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence make many young people extremely vulnerable to the promises of the traffickers. Once tempted, they are easily caught.

Safe house & team

Moldova’s sex slaves come from all over the country – from Chisinau, the capital, and from Gagauz-Ery, an autonomous southern region with a Turkic population.

Formed in 1999, BoL rescues women from the snare of the traffickers, and from life in the sex trade and its associated spiritual, health, social and psychological traumas.

A safe house in Chisinau, the capital city, has proved both a haven for those few who can be snatched from the clutches of traffickers, and a first step to restoration and a new beginning with better life options.

They also work in schools and other venues to change the attitudes which allow this evil to flourish, and they give a wide range of practical help to those in need, to reduce their vulnerability.

WorldShare already has a link with this ministry – the founders, Vladimir and Iulia Ubeivolc, are graduates (and once sponsored students) from St. Petersburg Christian University. Now we will be helping them more.

BoL is increasingly recognised – in Moldova and further afield – for its work. In 2010 they organised a Europe-wide conference on sex trafficking in Moldova, which was attended by representatives from 25 countries.

BoL urgently needs help to continue and to grow this vital ministry. Their team of 12 needs support. Your gift, of any size, will help them to continue their work around Chisinau, and also to extend more help to the north and south of the country.

In particular, it costs BoL about £420 per month to provide care in the safe house for one rescued girl. Can you help, with a one-off or regular gift, to rescue a young life?

G208 - Protect girl from trafficking, Moldova (opens Gift of Hope site in new window)