Story
Support those who have suffered trauma because of abuse, slavery or human trafficking by running.
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By doing a fundraising run you will be supporting individuals like Lina in Cambodia.
Linas Story - A Survivor of Human Trafficking
Lina was born into a very poor family in Kompong Speu province, Cambodia and is the eldest of five. In 2019 she was approached by a woman named Klok who convinced her to work in China for a high salary. Klok promised Lina to cover all of her expenses, accommodation, food and any documents required for her travel. With her family in mind, Lina agreed.
Klok then arranged a meeting with Lina and an unidentified couple in Phnom Penh who provided Lina documentation including a passport. Lina was then referred to a man who drove her to the border of Cambodia and Vietnam, where she met another man who transferred her to China by boat. It was upon arrival that Lina discovered that she was to marry a Chinese man. With no idea of how to return back home, she had no choice but to live with him.
Forced to work as a construction worker, Lina suffered extreme abuse at the hands of the man and the 6 other relatives they lived with. They took all her hard earned money, restricted her food consumption and were careless about her health. After delivering a baby girl a month later, she was separated from the baby. Later on, Lina was able to get into contact with Klok who referred her to another Chinese man with assurance that he would treat her better. This was not the case and again Lina suffered extreme abuse.
On 26 May 2021, Lina and two other survivors were referred to Hagar by the Cambodias Ministry of Social Affair, Veterans and Youth (MoSVY) after two weeks quarantine.
Lina was brought to the Home of Love, where they were welcomed into the loving arms of their foster mother who has cared for Hagar's survivors for more than a decade. After having received a health check up, her results showed that she was HIV positive. Through counselling and therapy, Lina has gained strength to manage the long road to recovery.
They got my body, my soul and my hope. But I am really happy when I first arrived Cambodia and I am so grateful to have warm welcomed by Hagars team and staying at the Home of Love. I feeling free and loved by the foster mother and Hagar staffs. They love me, care for me, smile at me, and encourage me to stay strong, which give me hope and gain back my strength to continue my life."
In the next step of her journey to wholeness, the Hagar team collaborated with MoSVY and local authorities to reintegrate Lina back with her family.