{"id":21579,"date":"2023-12-29T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org.au\/?p=21579"},"modified":"2023-12-19T04:14:33","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T18:14:33","slug":"learning-to-dream-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org.au\/blog\/learning-to-dream-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning to Dream Again"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
Child exploitation has been endemic for generations in many regions where we work. The effects of this abuse are widespread: Criminals see children as easy prey for easy money. Communities become grudgingly accustomed\u2014if not comfortable\u2014with the ugly trade. In particularly impoverished areas, sex trafficking is sometimes viewed as a last resort for getting much-needed money to keep families from starvation.<\/span><\/h5>\n

But the most devastating effect is on the victimised children. Each of these kids is a bright, unique soul with their own distinct personality and dreams for the future. Like most kids, they have aspirations for a particular path in life and dreams of what they want to be or do in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exploitation crushes those hopes and dreams. Imprisoned in a life that relegates these poor kids to little more than a product for sale, children often lose their ability to think positively. Constant trauma causes them to shrink in on themselves, warping their view of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of our caseworkers in Kenya put it best: <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

We rescue hopeless people. They don\u2019t see their future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
But rescue changes all that.\u00a0<\/b><\/h5>\n

Today, we want to take a look at how rescue changes hearts, lives and whole communities through the eyes of our front-line agents and caseworkers from around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing Hearts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Because children are the centre of our mission, the change we see in them is always exciting for our agents. Upon rescue, many children\u2019s emotions can include a mix of fear, mistrust, anger and loss of hope.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our agents know all too well that the days and weeks immediately after rescue can be very difficult, but to witness a child\u2019s personality bloom after they\u2019re safe from the oppression of exploitation is a joy unlike any other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Grace, one of our caseworkers in Kenya, recalled seeing such a change in a girl we rescued from a forced child marriage. \u201c(She) is now a happy girl who does well in school, and her future seems bright,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Grace (right) gives a food pack to a rescued child\u2019s guardian<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

Grace shares in that joy: \u201cI am also a happy caseworker seeing one of the many [rescued children\u2019s] hope restored.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob, a rescue agent in the Dominican Republic, also witnessed an amazing transformation in a child rescued from forced child marriage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The girl was abducted from her home when she was only 13 years old and brainwashed into thinking she was in a real, legitimate relationship with her 34-year-old kidnapper. Her parents had no idea where she\u2019d been taken and were frantic for help. Child marriage is illegal in the country; the minimum age to marry is 18 years old, with no exceptions, according to the Dominican Republic\u2019s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we helped police locate and raid the house, the child, who now had a 3-month-old baby of her own, was dismayed at the thought of being separated from the man who\u2019d been caring for her, brainwashed by his manipulation. Convinced that she\u2019d never be able to survive without provision from her \u201chusband,\u201d she was so distressed upon rescue that she threatened to take her own life. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Destiny\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

Destiny Rescue Dominican Republic agents, alongside the Dominican Republic National Police<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

But nearly four years later, this brave, bright young woman is graduating high school with plans to attend university. Jacob couldn\u2019t be prouder. \u201cShe is now one of the happiest girls, and her story is impacting a lot of [those] recently rescued\u2026\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob brings to light the fact that these rescued kids are doing more than just bettering themselves; they’re helping other survivors change whole communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing Futures<\/span><\/h2>\n

Alamani, a business manager in Kenya, shared the potential far-reaching influence he expects from a particular young boy rescued from generational exploitation. The malnourished and neglected child of a mother in the sex industry was forced to live in tragic conditions and witness countless wrongs. This young 11-year-old boy had little hope for the future before rescue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But now that he\u2019s safe and well-fed with a loving foster guardian, the boy is a diligent student with aspirations of becoming a doctor. Alamani has no doubt that his hard work is the first step in creating a bright new legacy: <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

He will one day change the story of his family and other children who are going through the same issues he went through.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

Austin, a rescue agent in the Philippines, also shared a story of a survivor who has exciting prospects. The bright child dreamed of becoming a chef before being forced to put her dreams on hold when she was pressured into working in a bar, where more was expected of her than just waiting tables to provide for her family.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

A Destiny Rescue caseworker stands by to help survivors in the stressful moments immediately after a raid<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

However, because she bravely chose to accept rescue, this enthusiastic girl is now well on her way to realising her dream: Austin was thrilled when he received a picture of the survivor shortly after she graduated from culinary school with our help. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

She had the biggest smile on her face and a bright future ahead,\u201d Austin said.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

Changing Cultures<\/span><\/h2>\n

But rescue changes more than just the survivors\u2019 lives. Positivity is just as infectious as negativity. Over time, our staff report how the positive changes ripple from individuals to families to the communities where they serve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Philippines, we\u2019ve actually started to see the practice of child trafficking become stigmatised by the most unlikely group of all: \u201cMany criminals now frown upon, fear, or condemn the exploitation of minors,\u201d Xander, a rescue agent in the Philippines, said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our work in his location is helping to alter the cultural perspective of child exploitation in nearly every level of society. So great is the change that even criminals are starting to shun the vile practice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And for those who choose to continue to sell kids for sex despite the deepening social scorn, the message is clear: \u201cBe careful about taking children for trafficking,\u201d Joe, our country manager in Thailand, said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our collaboration with law enforcement has created an alarmingly efficient machine for rescuing kids and putting traffickers behind bars in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\"thai<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Our Thailand country manager, Joe, poses in his Destiny Rescue gear<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t

But we\u2019ve seen other shifts in communities that are even more encouraging. Instead of viewing child trafficking as a lamentable reality, citizens are starting to realise that there might be another way. <\/span>Traffickers are not as untouchable<\/span><\/a> as once thought. <\/span>Economic improvement initiatives<\/span><\/a> are revealing new ways to combat poverty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even the at-risk children themselves are beginning to realise their worth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy community has seen a lot of changes since Destiny Rescue came in\u2026 even the underage children are aware of their rights,\u201d Alamani, the Kenyan business manager we heard from earlier, said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to our efforts and brave survivors\u2019 choice to accept freedom, children once trapped in darkness are beginning to see the light of freedom: <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

By rescuing these young children who\u2026 have lost hope in life,<\/span> their hopes are being restored<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
-Alamani, Kenya Business Manager<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n

We believe all children should have the opportunity to hope and to pursue their dreams for the future. By rescuing a child, you make bright futures possible. Complete the form below to restore a child\u2019s hope today. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n