By Vivian Isaac, My Choices Foundation, India
For survivors of sex trafficking, freedom is only the beginning. The path to recovery requires a safe space to heal, economic opportunities to regain independence, and long-term community support to prevent re-exploitation. Across India, shelter homes and vocational programmes play a critical role in this process, but survivors cannot recover alone. They need an entire ecosystem of protection and empowerment.
At My Choices Foundation, our mission through Operation Red Alert has always been to stop trafficking before it happens. However, we recognise that prevention and survivor recovery must go hand in hand, because for those who have already been trafficked, prevention comes too late.
Saleema’s story: From survivor to community leader
One of the most powerful examples of survivor-led change comes from Saleema, a young woman from West Bengal, India, who was trafficked into forced prostitution in Bengaluru, India. After enduring horrific abuse, she managed to escape with the help of a grassroots NGO and return home. But reintegration wasn’t easy—she knew firsthand how easily young girls in her village could fall into the same trap.
When Saleema learned about our Safe Village Programme, she expressed a strong desire to join the initiative and ensure that no other girl in her community suffered as she had. With guidance from Operation Red Alert, she studied our comic book resources, learned how trafficking networks operate, and stepped forward as a leader in her village. Her involvement has now led to the launch of the Reinforced Safe Village Programme, a one-year survivor-led initiative that deepens community engagement and prevention efforts.
Reinforced safe village programme: A survivor-led community prevention model
The Reinforced Safe Village Programme expands on our existing Safe Village Programme model by prioritising survivor leadership and community-driven prevention. In Saleema’s village, the programme are held every two months, ensuring continuous engagement with youth, parents, and community leaders.
Key components of the reinforced safe village programme:
Children’s programmes – Raising awareness among Guardian Girls and Smart Boys in schools.
Fathers’ and mothers’ meetings – Encouraging Good Fathers and Informed Mothers to prioritise education and safety.
Community action meetings – Mobilising local leaders, law enforcement, and grassroots stakeholders.
Youth resilience training – Equipping adolescents with tools to recognise and resist exploitation.
Structural reforms – Strengthening partnerships with Anti-Human Trafficking Units, Women and Child Development, and Labour Departments.
Survivor-led advocacy – Training survivors like Saleema to educate and empower their own communities.
Survivor voices are powerful catalysts for change, and the Reinforced Safe Village Programme is proof of how lived experience can transform community mindsets and prevent trafficking at its roots.
Building long-term rehabilitation through partnerships
While My Choices Foundation specialises in prevention, we know that prevention alone is not enough. Survivors like Saleema need access to shelters, counselling, education, and employment opportunities, which is why we partner with strategic allies to ensure long-term recovery.
Through our partnerships, survivors receive:
Safe shelter in trauma-informed homes, where they can heal and rebuild their lives.
Vocational training in market-driven skills, helping them secure dignified employment.
Legal aid and justice support, so they can pursue action against traffickers and access their rights.
Psychosocial counselling and mentorship, ensuring emotional and psychological healing.
By linking prevention, survivor leadership, and rehabilitation services, we reduce survivors’ vulnerability to re-exploitation and strengthen their long-term recovery.
A future where survivors lead the way
Saleema’s journey from victim to advocate represents the future we envision—a world where survivors are not only rescued but also empowered to protect their communities. Through the Reinforced Safe Village Programme and our expanding survivor engagement model, we are building a movement where communities no longer wait for trafficking to happen but actively prevent it. Because a true safe haven is not just a shelter—it is a community where survivors thrive, families are informed, and every individual is protected.
Comments