Trigger warning: Even with some of the more graphic details removed, the explicit nature of this survivor’s story conversation may be disturbing to some readers and involves rape. Please read with discretion.

When Trisha first saw Destiny Rescue border agents, she was frightened. The confident border women had the authority to stop anyone they suspected of being at risk. Once they discovered that Trisha’s family had reported her missing, the women in blue uniforms prevented her from crossing, ruining her plans.

Now, Trisha wears that same blue uniform.

Trisha’s journey from surviving rape to becoming to a border agent is full of twists and turns. Through it all, her ambition to become something more drove her to find a job that gave her life meaning and purpose. It’s a goal she’s finally realized.

“I always wanted to do something for me and my family,” Trisha said. “I was so sad when I was unable to do that in the past. But now, being a part of [Destiny Rescue] has fulfiled my dream of achieving it in my life.”

Thwarted Ambitions

Trisha constantly butted heads with her parents. After finishing high school, she longed to venture out into the world to gain work experience. She even planned to return home to Nepal and become an entrepreneur.

But her parents would have none of it. Though her father, a struggling alcoholic, and mother often fought, they agreed on one thing: Trisha needed to stay home.

In their village, women didn’t work outside the home. Trisha had already become fodder for the town gossip because of her nontraditional aspirations, and her parents insisted that she put those dreams aside.

But Trisha was adamant. She spent the next couple of years working labor jobs on nearby farms, secretly saving the money until she could afford a passport. As soon as everything was in place, Trisha left her hometown with plans to find work through a recruiting agency in a nearby country.

When the agency failed to place her, she pivoted and went to work at a factory. That business went under after just a few months—leaving her jobless again.

Trisha was living with some friends who’d also worked in the defunct factory, and one of them became very ill. The group decided to cross the Nepal border to get medical treatment in a neighboring country.

That’s when she first met Destiny Rescue border agents.

From bad… to worse.

Our agents called Trisha’s parents to get a more complete picture of her situation. Her parents reported that she’d been missing for months and asked that she not be allowed to leave the country.

Trisha stayed in a safe house with our agents overnight. During that time, she got to know them better and realized that these women were more than just border guards. The women shared a passion for the welfare of Nepali girls. These strong, hardworking women saw themselves as the last line of defense between their treasured youth and the unimaginable horrors that often waited just across the border. Their sense of purpose affected Trisha deeply.

Trisha’s parents were busy with work the next day, so they sent a neighbor, a man they insisted had their complete trust, to retrieve Trisha. He took her partway home but stopped at a hotel to get some food. That’s when he showed his true colors.

He took Trisha to one of the rooms and attempted to rape her. Trisha, true to her fighting spirit, screamed and fought until the hotel staff separated them and took Trisha to her parents’ house.

But where she should have found comfort and acceptance, her parents, who hadn’t seen her in months, chose not to believe their daughter. Despite her attempts to convince them that she’d been assaulted, they reprimanded her for speaking ill of their friend. Like all too many victims of sexual violence, she found herself emotionally abandoned, bereft of trust by those who should have been in her corner.

So Trisha, ever a person of action, decided to return to the last place she felt truly safe.

Coming home

She sought refuge with the border agents.

She’s been there ever since. After training with them, Trisha joined the ranks of blue-uniformed women protecting Nepal’s children from human traffickers. It’s a decision she doesn’t regret.

Perhaps the biggest surprise associated with her new employment came from her parents. The same people who tried to prevent her from working and ignored her rape story are now her biggest fans. “My family stopped me from doing work when I was in the village,” Tisha recalled. “Now, they are very proud of me.”

Trisha’s training and lived experience make her a valuable asset to the team. When counselling trafficking victims, she has the unique ability to break down barriers and relate to victims. Her supervisor thinks Trisha has the potential to become their best caseworker.

If her experience and training are the tools of her trade, her passion for suffering girls is her impetus. During her interview, she shared her hopes for the girls they help:

Trisha is irrepressible, taking action where others would hesitate. As a result, she’s found her purpose in rescuing children from exploitation.

Will you take action for the sake of hurting kids? Fill out the form below to rescue a child today.