I have a story to share, but this time the story is not mine nor is it the story of our volunteers; it is the story of one little girl and her incredible journey to freedom.This little girl, let's call her B, was found working as a slave in a province nearby. Child slavery is still very much alive in parts of rural Thailand, and these children often suffer a lot at the hands of brutal 'owners.'
Child slaves are forced to hide, cook, clean house, and perform any day to day duties their owners require. They are often beaten, underfed, and treated no better than stray dogs on the streets. Once these children get older they are then sold off to another owner and often end up trafficked into the profitable sex industry in big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and in some cases smuggled abroad if the price is right.
Children that become victims of slavery usually come from desperate economic situations. The ex-child slaves I have met here all have a similar story: their families escaped ethnic genocide in neighboring Burma only to find an even more difficult life in Thailand's border refugee camps. With nowhere to go and no future economic opportunity available to them, Burmese refugees often fade away in the camps without hope or help.
Imagine living within the cracking bamboo walls of an over-crowded camp, constantly begging for food and basic needs from soldiers and NGOs with limited resources; it's easy to understand how some parents become faced with desperate decisions. Children are often smuggled out of refugee camps and sold to people who promise to provide a sustainable source of income for the child and for his or her family. Some parents buy the lies about their children going to study in Bangkok and finding jobs in the big cities, and the dream that they will be able to send money home regularly. Some parents know better, know that their child may end up a prostitute lost somewhere in the gaps of black market Thai society...but they decide that surely any life outside the camp will be better than the one they live now.
B's story begins very much the same way. She can't be more than 8 or 9 years old, but it's hard to say since she has no idea when she was born or what her birthday is. She is confused and doesn't remember much of her family or previous life, she only knows the hell where she's been trapped for an unknown number of months or possibly even years. She was found in a Thai home, working as a slave in a gay couple's home outside of a big city. On top of the day to day struggles of keeping a clean house, she has been permanently scarred physically and emotionally by their sadistic abuse. Her body is riddled with scars and burn marks from cigarette lighters, and that is only just the beginning. She was forced to watch x-rated films and pornography and then forced to act out the scenes with another little boy in the house for the sick pleasure of her owners.
The true measure of her trauma is still unknown, and it may take years to really know the full scale of damage she has suffered at such a young age.
The story of how I met her is full of demons, heroes, danger and unwavering bravery...but for the sake of this little girl and everyone involved in her rescue I'll have to keep this one a secret, always. What you should know now, is that she is finally safe. She smiles, she plays, and she is making new friends every day (especially in the arms of our volunteers.)
Days like today when it is rainy outside and the humidity feels like it's choking you, it's easy to feel tired, discouraged and emotionally drained. Volunteer work is physically demanding, and struggling to adapt to new climates, diets, lifestyles and cultural nuances can test the patience of saints... But then, we must always remember to step back and take a minute to absorb and reflect upon our surroundings. We volunteer not just for our personal fulfillment, but for the good work and support of struggling organizations and more importantly for the well-being of individuals like this little girl, B.
Reality check.
