“I’m gonna make it” - Stories of Child Trafficking from Survivors

He found me on social media.

She would force me to beg in the street.

My mother...

gave birth to me
when she was 14 years old.

I've always had problems,

as if I was born into problems.

I had to quit school early
and go to work

for my family to have money.

My dad chose drugs over us.

There's this awful feeling
in your stomach

when you know you're not wanted.

I already had friends working
in a strip club

They introduced me to a trafficker.

I decided to run away.

I might find love and care
some place else.

I couldn't believe how much
I made in one night.

I thought I could control
what happened from there.

He'd take pictures of us.

I thought what they were doing

to me was okay.

I had my hair and nails done.

I felt beautiful.

He gave my family a computer and phones.

My friends didn't have those,

so I felt proud.

I just didn't realize...

that the person I thought was helping me,

and keeping me protected,

he was really my pimp.

I love her.

I thought she loved me.

But then he started saying

"Rent's not free."

I was forced to work in a nail salon.

I was only twelve years old

when I was first sold for sex.

Mama said: "I'll be giving you

to my American friend."

I said "okay".

But when the time came,

I tried to hide from him

behind the cars in the parking lot.

I couldn't avoid the beatings.

I begged to go home.

My hands were swollen from the work.

It hurt to walk.

I needed to do what he wanted

because he paid for me

People kept asking what was wrong

I kept making up answers.

I couldn't just tell my mom, because

she would have just called the cops

and I didn't want that.

She didn't know how these people act.

Then some people did call the police

but they would just come and then leave

and nothing would change.

...And no one could help me.

I thought my life would end there.

Someone called Love146.

I said I wasn't going to see them, but...

they kept showing up.

They knew what I needed.

The people were there and got us.

They brought me to Love146.

Talking to Love146

was the first time I realized

what was really happening to me.

I was given..

a light, and..

a way out when I met you.

Now, I try to remember

when I'm angry or sad

that it's okay to cry.

...But everything that happened before

is starting to become
a smaller part of my life

because it's being replaced
with good memories

My Love146 worker is like a mom to me.

She.. showed me that...

I'm deserving of much more than this.

When everyone else just thought
I was a bad kid,

she listened.

I felt like it was my fault,

but...

Now I can explain to people
how he tricked me.

The hardest part

is knowing that they couldn't find him.

I imagine that he is just around the corner

and he could shoot me.

Even if there are people

who continue to harm children,

there are more people who still can love

children like us.

I am now living independently

and I feel great.

Love146 valued me.

It was here that I became strong.

It was here that I learned how to be loved

and how to love myself and other people.

I learned to stand on my own two feet.

I'm not just another statistic.

I'm not ready to give up.

I still have fight left in me.

I'm gonna make it.