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Charity helps sex-trafficked women in UK pursue dream careers

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Laura Bridgestock
WVoN co-editor

A charity in the UK is helping sex-trafficked women give their lives a new start, by pursuing their dream careers.

The HERA project, which stands for Her Equality, Rights and Autonomy, works with women in London who have managed to escape the sex-trafficking trade.

At the centre of the project is the idea of empowerment – providing a platform for women to stop being victims, and take control of their own lives and futures.

Participants have the opportunity to undertake an intensive training course, run in partnership with a business school, focusing on entrepreneurship and career development skills.

At the end of the course, each is matched with a volunteer mentor, selected to help achieve her own personal aspirations.

The program is still relatively young, having been running in London only since 2008. But already, some of the success stories are incredible.

One participant has returned to her home town in Zimbabwe, where she is initiating a project to set up a children’s nursery.

Another has enrolled on a medicine course – the first step in achieving a dream she had previously given up on before the scheme, despite being only 22.

One past participant said HERA showed that, “Whatever background you come from, you can still be somebody.” Another added, “HERA doesn’t stop after a year; it stays with you for life.”

HERA also collaborates with other NGOs and organisations to provide a full spectrum of support for the women – counselling, legal representation, even the loan of some smart clothes for a court hearing or interview.

Beyond the UK, HERA is also working with women in Serbia, the USA, Georgia and Armenia.

Find out more about HERA.

Make a donation to help keep the project running.

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