Emerging from the darkness

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Raised in a poor family in a mountainous district of Yen Bai province, Binh* married with the dream that her new partner would help her build a better life. But, her husband’s health deteriorated while their children were still young.

Life became worse. And when Binh had had no money to buy food or medicine for days on end, one of her relatives approached her, promising to help her meet a man who would give her a good job in the city. Binh quickly agreed without suspicion.

But instead of starting work... a trafficker spirited her over the border to China where he sold her to a local man.

But instead of starting work, her relative’s friend, who Binh soon realised was a trafficker, spirited her over the border to China, where he sold her to a local man. She was forced to become the Chinese man’s wife. She stayed with him for three years, toiling in the fields from dawn to dusk as he was also very poor.

Binh nourished the desire to escape, but had no money for travel. Instead, she told the Chinese man that her mother was sick and she needed to go back to Vietnam to see her for the last time. He agreed, leaving her at the border, where Binh immediately went to the police station for help. The police then sent Binh back to her hometown.

Life back home was far worse than before, though. Her real husband’s relatives and neighbours ostracised her due to her experiences. She didn’t want to encounter anyone out of fear of being insulted, suffering severe psychological stress and a deteriorating physical state.

Meanwhile, her family faced further financial hardship as Binh had very limited chances of finding work. No one in her neighbourhood wanted to hire her.

Light only appeared when World Vision learned of Binh’s plight, helping her develop a livelihood by giving her a buffalo, sows and chickens as part of its End Trafficking in Persons project. And so far, she has been able to make a profit by increasing her number of chickens and pigs, while the buffalo has also given birth to a calf.

But Binh’s days are not only busy taking care of the animals. With World Vision’s support, she has joined the district’s women’s club, where she shares her experiences with other victims of trafficking and helps local youngsters understand how to protect themselves from being trafficked. The contact has brought her new hope and meaning in life.

“I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received from World Vision, the local authorities and my community,” she says. “My new job suits my health and helps me make a living.” Years after the horrendous day when she was taken to China, Binh is ready for her new life.

*Name changed to protect identity