Hope Lives
Farah had come to Kolkata – the City of Joy with high hopes and dreams when she left her home country, Bangladesh.
But, it was short-lived.
Soon, she landed up in a brothel in Kolkata, tricked by the trafficker who had given her false hope of a good job and had brought her to India.
Farah is a survivor of human trafficking. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit rescued Farah from Sonagachi, the red right light area of Kolkata, and placed her at the Mahima Homes.
Farah recounts, "I was engulfed with fear, anxiety, and trauma of a horrifying past when I came to Mahima."
Farah faced a daunting challenge having to live away from her home country, where she knew no one. She showed great strength, patience, and resilience in the face of adversity. After being trafficked to India, Farah had to confront numerous struggles, but she managed her emotions well and carried on with her life with perseverance and determination.
Farah shares, “During my stay at the Mahima Homes, I not only got to revive my life but received training opportunities to stand on my feet.”
Farah was a fast learner. A multi-talented girl, she received vocational training support on candle and soap making and also completed a short-term beautician course. Music and dance therapy, along with the one-on-one counseling sessions, helped her heal.
Farah had successfully testified against her perpetrators in Kolkata, and the moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived. After three and a half years of healing at Mahima Homes, she was ready to return to her parents and was finally repatriated back to Bangladesh.
Farah says, "It was a bittersweet moment when I had to bid goodbye to all the aunties and my friends at Mahima. With a heavy yet excited heart, I returned home with the hope of beginning a new life."
And along she also carried the learning and memories she had gathered at the Mahima Homes.
When asked how Mahima had impacted her, Farah says with a smile, “Mahima has instilled courage in me that enabled me to fight my case. The constant love, guidance and support I got from my peers and staff shaped my life and allowed me to easily rise over the trauma that used to haunt me always. I am happy to return home, but I will treasure the memories I made at Mahima, for life.”
Farah currently works with Justice and Care in Bangladesh as a peer mentor, providing counselling to survivors. Recently, she rescued a girl from a child marriage and got married last year. Farah's journey is a remarkable example of bravery, patience, and courage. She is an inspiration to all the girls at Mahima Homes.
“The constant love, guidance and support I got from my peers and staff shaped my life and allowed me to easily rise over the trauma that used to haunt me always.”