When Nary (not her real name) was rescued from the streets of Thailand, where she had been forced to labour as a child beggar, no one knew how old she was or where she had come from.

Without any official documents, her rescuers could only guess from her size and mental ability that she was about five years old.

From what Nary told them, they pieced together that she had likely been sold to traffickers by her impoverished parents in Cambodia.

Trafficked at three

While her memory of her past is spotty, Nary, now in her mid-20s, told Salt&Light that what she does remember is the poverty she was born into and the day she was trafficked to Thailand.

“My family was very poor. My older brother and I were hungry all the time, and my mother would ask me to go to the roadside to ask for money,” she recounted, adding that fights and abuse were common in the household.

One day, she felt unusually drowsy. “I think I fell asleep for many days,” she said. When she woke up, she found herself in a room full of crying children.

“I was crying too.”

Through her sobs, she heard the comforting sound of a familiar voice. It was her brother’s. He had been trafficked together with her.

Estimates show that more than 10 million children are enslaved today, for reasons from child labour to forced marriages and armed conflict.

Every day, the children’s “boss” would take them to different streets and instruct them to beg for money. He would take all the money they collected and force them to live off a small portion of food, she said.

In a foreign land with nothing but the clothes on their backs, the siblings – along with other trafficked children – were exploited, starved and tortured day after day. Nary was only three years old.

“I remember feeling very scared, but I still had my brother and that made me feel better,” she said, adding that she has no idea what happened to her parents.

All alone

After enduring the abuse for two whole years, Nary and her brother were rescued by Thai police during a police raid.

But even their liberation was tinged with tragedy. During the flurry of their rescue, the siblings were separated.

“I felt very scared and I couldn’t think. I kept crying and asking people to help me. I didn’t know what had happened to my family, my brother,” said Nary, who was sent to Hagar Cambodia for rehabilitation.

Hagar Cambodia is part of Hagar International, a non-profit that serves victims of sexual slavery and human trafficking. The Christian organisation also has offices in Singapore, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Solomon Islands.

Multiple attempts by Hagar Cambodia to track down her brother over the past two decades have yielded no results. “I don’t know where he is or what he looks like now. I feel very sad that I cannot see him again,” Nary told Salt&Light.

Attempts to find out more information about her parents, any other family members or the village she was from were also in vain.

A family and a future

Despite this, Nary found a family – in more ways than one – through Hagar Cambodia.

After her arrival at their shelter, she received medical treatment, counselling, education and social support from staff members, who touched her with their love and kindness.

“They really cared about me and were always with me in any situation, whether I was happy or sad. They always made me feel special even though I know they were busy. They were like my family,” she said.

With Hagar Cambodia’s help, Nary was taken in by a foster family who cared for her as their own for seven years.

“My foster parents really provided me with good care, love and good advice, encouraging me and continuing to keep in touch even after I moved away from them,” said Nary.

It was during her time at Hagar’s shelter and with her foster parents that she came to know and learn more about Jesus and His great love for her.

“God’s Word comforts me whenever I am sad and think too much and worry. He is with me in all situations, like when I face obstacles in life. He paves the way for me whenever I am stuck,” she said.

She recalled the time she prayed “very hard” after applying to university. It was her heart’s desire to be accepted, but she knew that her grades were not good enough.

By God’s grace, she scored a spot to study accountancy and is currently in her second year. Hagar Singapore is funding her education.

“I was very shocked. I know it’s a miracle from God. I could not have made it on my own. God answered my prayer,” said Nary, who is now living independently at a university dormitory.

Being loved by a God who is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) has also helped her to heal from the wounds from her past.

Nary hopes to work as an accountant after graduating from university.

“Everyone has a family. I don’t have one, but at least I have God. He is my best friend, so I tell Him everything. When I feel unhappy or disappointed, I talk with God. I tell him all the challenges I’m facing, and He shows me the way,” she said.

“When I think about my past, I feel lonely. But God and the staff at Hagar take care of me and give me hope. I know I have a future.”

The race against slavery

The future she envisions includes becoming an accountant, as well as helping others the way Hagar has helped her.

For a start, she is participating in Hagar Singapore’s 40.3+ Freedom Race next month to help raise funds for victims of child trafficking like herself.

Held from November 3 to 12, the annual virtual race, which is open to all ages and fitness levels, aims to raise $300,000 to provide critical aid for people living in modern slavery around the world.

While it was estimated in 2016 that there are 40.3 million people worldwide living in captivity, this number has ballooned more than 20% to almost 50 million today, according to Hagar.

In August, executive director of Hagar Singapore Michael Chiam sent an email to Hagar supporters calling for urgent donations due to a drastic rise in the number of victims.

The appeal raised $300,000 out of their goal of $400,000, and the non-profit organisation is hoping that the 40.3+ Freedom Race will help to make up for the shortfall, among other needs.

With a firsthand understanding of the impact that Hagar’s work can have on victims like herself, Nary told Salt&Light: “I hope to push myself to train more so that other children can get help. I want to tell them to be brave.

“Life is bad but there is hope in Jesus. Don’t give up.”

How to join Nary in the fight for freedom

1. Select your fitness challenge: Choose any sport or fitness activity and set your 403-themed activity target individually or as a group. You can also boost your challenge with additional Power-Ups, such an inviting a friend or garnering likes on social media posts about your race.
2. Raise funds: Tell your friends and family about your race challenge and get them to support your efforts with a donation.
3. Finish strong: Complete your virtual challenge between November 3-12, 2023.

Registration fee: $30 

100% of the funds raised will go directly to providing critical aid for human trafficking and abuse survivors in Singapore, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Vietnam. 

With a personal fundraising target of $500, you can help 10 survivors start a new life. 

For more details, visit the race’s official website here.

RELATED STORIES:

Her parents sold her to traffickers when she was six: Hagar Singapore calls for “urgent” donations amid rising number of victims

From polio survivor to anti-human trafficking activist. Now he needs one more miracle

Trafficked to Singapore as a sex worker at just 14