Rescued from Human Traffickers
God is strengthening His church to give freedom to children trafficked in Nepal.
Alleviating Violence, Exploitation, and Risk – 080669
She was in grave danger.
An Act of Desperation
Nuru’s perilous journey started after she completed her Grade 10 exam in a remote village in central Nepal.Despite her achievement, her family struggled to survive. Nuru’s father and older brothers battled alcohol addiction and didn’t provide what their family needed—something the determined teenager took upon herself.
Nuru went in search of work outside the country. She obtained a passport and attempted to fly to Kuwait before authorities turned her away for being too young to travel alone. That’s when the helpful “agent” offered to get Nuru to Kuwait via India, and she boarded a bus with him and two other girls bound for the border.
Rescued from Danger
Thankfully, anti-trafficking police suspected the group and questioned them. They told Nuru she was in the hands of a trafficker and needed to get out. Though frightened, Nuru remembered the phone number of someone who could help.She asked the authorities to call Pastor Palsang,* a member of her village’s child vigilance protection group. This community organization—initiated by our local partner and Samaritan’s Purse—helps prevent trafficking and protect survivors.
Pastor Palsang immediately informed Nuru’s parents and worked to bring her safely home.
Preventing Trafficking
Members of a Nepali village take part in a training about recognizing the tactics of human traffickers and how to respond.
Nuru’s ordeal is tragically common all over the world. Poverty, desperation, and a lack of knowledge about the tactics of traffickers leave millions of people vulnerable to horrific exploitation.
Sindhupalchowk district, where Nuru lives in Nepal, is one of the most trafficked areas in the country. A route connecting China and India through this region heightens the risks for trafficking, especially for children.
But prayer and gifts like yours make a difference in stopping this abuse.
As Samaritan’s Purse works with our Christian Nepali partner, we are equipping churches like Pastor Palsang’s to stand in the gap for these children in Jesus’ Name. Like dozens of others across Sindhupalchowk district, his congregation received training on how to recognize trafficking and respond.
They then formed a child vigilance protection group with church and community members to educate their community about trafficking and abuse prevention. They hosted training events, launched awareness campaigns, and set an example of caring for the most vulnerable.
Creating Child-Safe Spaces
Children in Nepal participate in a training about good touch and bad touch to help protect them from sexual abuse.
Pastor Palsang’s church also partnered with the local school to host child learning spaces. These are safe places for children to attend for two hours after each school day. There are fun activities, homework help, and child-friendly lessons to teach them how to protect themselves.
Sexual abuse is another critical issue within these remote Nepali communities. Training such as “Good Touch, Bad Touch” teaches boys and girls about appropriate and inappropriate contact and how to get help if they experience abuse.
The child learning space also allows the church to communicate values from God’s Word—sharing His love and the worth of every person in His eyes.
Hope for Nuru
Those were messages Nuru needed to hear when she came home. Despite her strength to survive a trafficking situation, Nuru was stigmatized among her community. It’s a weight that many survivors carry.But Pastor Palsang, his wife, and their church came alongside this brave young woman. They walked with Nuru as she tried to return to life in the village. Students from the youth club also encouraged her and often spoke up for her, showing their community what love looks like in place of mockery.
Please pray for Nuru and the millions of other children being trafficked around the world. Few things in our world are darker than the enslaving and exploitation of children. Through your prayers and support, God is empowering His church in Nepal to stand for these little ones and shine His darkness-piercing light.
“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:10-11).
*Name changed to protect privacy. Due to the sensitive nature of this story, the headline photo is a stock photo posed by a model. It is for illustrative purposes only.
