Our work focuses mainly on welcoming and assisting victims of human trafficking (mostly women) who are deported or decide to return to Nigeria voluntarily. We also try to reach out to victims of internal human trafficking – those trafficked and exploited within the country. We have some young men who we are helping.Believing strongly in the adage which says that Prevention is better than cure, we put a lot of energy and resources into PREVENTION – Awareness Creation and Sensitization.
The work done with these persons who are either deportees or voluntary returnees falls into two main categories – REHABILITATION & REINTEGRATION.
These victims of trafficking come to us either when they are deported or choose to return voluntarily. Our main work therefore is their rehabilitation and reintegration. When we are informed that they are returning to Nigeria, we arrange to go and meet them at the airport. We then bring them to our shelter in Lagos and receive them with a mini welcome party – a “No place like home” party. As soon as they come to our shelter, we take them for medical screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases to ascertain their medical status and know what appropriate measures to take. After that, we go into counselling sessions. In the course of the counselling, we try and connect them with their families depending on the role their families played in their being trafficked. Family reconciliation is an important aspect of our work. The returnee is counselled to heal the deep hurts he/she is carrying. Counselling is a spiritual direction, to connect them with GOD and assure them of GOD’s love for them. During this counselling period, we provide them with pocket money to meet some basic needs. When we see that the wounds are healing, we ask the returnee to give us a plan of action for her reintegration according to her interest and ability.
Following the client's plan of action, we try to set her up with what she can call her own to enable her to make a living from the profits and live in dignity. This is to prevent her from being re-trafficked. As we are setting up some business for her, we also try to secure residential accommodation because their stay in the shelter is temporary. The length of time in the shelter is a minimum of one month and maximum of two years depending on their readiness to be on their own. The ultimate goal is that they gain their independence and live in dignity.
Before some of the survivors arrive at our shelter, we start the process of Family Tracing which often brings about some form of bonding between them and us, when they arrive. For others the family tracing begins when they arrive at our shelter. Our rehabilitation practices cut across, counselling, pastoral care which includes spiritual direction. During this period, family tracing and reconciliation take place between them, their families and other areas from where they experienced deep hurt. Because all the Sisters in Nigeria belong to our National Network – Committee for the Support of the Dignity of Women (COSUDOW) – we avail of this connection to trace and reconcile families in any part of the country. All we need to do is to get in touch with the Sisters in that location and they trace the families. When it comes to reunifying with their families, the Sisters also carry this out, except in some peculiar situations when one of us from our office travels with the survivor to her family.
Realizing that this evil is not abating and also that the traffickers are now targeting rural areas for their recruitment, we have decided to put more of our energies and resources into Prevention. This entails creating awareness and sensitizing people on the evils and dangers of human trafficking. We carry our enlightenment campaigns to schools, churches, public places and youth fora. To do this effectively, we have written a Handbook for Schools with the title – STOP TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN: It is a Crime against Humanity
We are happy to share that we have recorded many success stories. A good number of our women got married after reintegration and they are living happily with their families, having been blessed with children. Some younger ones are in higher institutions of learning – universities and polytechnics. The majority of them acquired skills in such areas as hairdressing, tailoring and selling of provisions. Thanks to SLAVES NO MORE and their supporters who have brought hope and happiness in the lives of these people.
Join hands with us in empowering survivors of human trafficking, restoring dignity, and creating a society free from exploitation. Here's how you can make a difference:
