Free Indeed
Kashi* was only five years old when she was taken from her family and sold into domestic servitude for a wealthy family. She faced frequent physical, verbal, and sexual abuse by her masters, leaving her feeling worthless and traumatized. At 15, Kashi discovered this family’s dark secret—they were connected to South Asia’s illicit sex-trafficking industry. Kashi was sold into prostitution and beaten brutally if she ever resisted, causing her to give up hope of escaping the brothel.
“I worked there because I was scared to lose my life. I wanted to live.” - Kashi
The brothel was finally raided by International Justice Mission (IJM) agents working with local police. Following her rescue, Kashi moved into a loving aftercare home and began the long process of restoration through IJM’s local church partnerships. Kashi has bravely agreed to share her story in an ongoing legal trial against members of the family who enslaved and exploited her.
“I only wanted one thing: that what I had to go through—whatever had happened to me, whatever I had lost and the challenges I have faced—would not happen to any other child.” - Kashi
Today—while she still navigates the ongoing effects of trauma—Kashi is moving from
strength to strength. To find out how FAIR and IJM have partnered together to help set more victims like Kashi free, visit the Freedom | Bangladesh special appeal website.
To protect survivors, we have used pseudonyms and included photos that do not depict actual victims where appropriate. Consent was gathered for all images.