Participants:
Series Code: HIM
Program Code: HIM000108A
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00:10 A television series Open Motion has been a big success.
00:15 And we want to continue to share with you 00:17 some of the field stories 00:19 that we have filmed over the years. 00:21 So just from time to time, 00:24 it might refer to Asian Aid 00:26 as we reflect on these great stories 00:29 as we share them with you. 00:46 Child Impact International is an organization giving help, 00:50 previously called Asian Aid. 00:52 Child Impact International is an organization 00:55 fostering permanent positive change 00:57 in the lives of disadvantaged children 00:59 and their communities. 01:01 Child Impact is committed to making a difference 01:03 in the lives of children and those who are in need, 01:06 serving communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, 01:09 Sri Lanka, Myanmar, 01:11 and will soon expand to other countries. 01:14 For the last 50 years, 01:15 Child Impact has invested in the futures of people, 01:18 and their investment is proving infinite returns 01:21 driven by the dedication 01:22 to helping those who have the least. 01:24 Child Impact is an organization 01:26 focused on the welfare of children, 01:29 implementing diverse development projects 01:31 and sponsoring thousands of children. 01:33 Their outreach spans from child rescue operations 01:36 to providing an education for orphans, deaf, 01:39 and the blind children, giving them a sense of place, 01:43 a home, but above all, 01:44 Child Impact is an organization giving hope, 01:47 giving hope to children, giving hope to communities, 01:51 giving hope to the ones who needed the most. 01:54 This is Hope In Motion. 02:08 A couple of years ago, Jean Boonstra, 02:10 Associate Speaker of Voice of Prophecy, 02:13 visited India with Child Impact International. 02:16 Jean and her family have been 02:18 privileged to sponsor a girl through Child impact. 02:21 It has been a blessing for Jean and her family 02:23 to be able to make a difference in her life. 02:30 During her trip to India, 02:32 Jean met some amazing people 02:34 who were the driving force behind Child Impact's mission 02:37 to reach out to those in need. 02:39 She met with Anita, who was in charge 02:41 of Child Impact's Operation Child Rescue program in India. 02:45 Operation Child Rescue is a program that rescues 02:48 and rehabilitates girls who are trafficked 02:50 and sold as prostitutes in the sex industry. 02:53 Jean got to talk to Anita, 02:55 and she shared with her the challenges 02:57 and the dangers that she and her team face 03:00 in rescuing these girls. 03:03 Anita, it's nice to see you again. 03:05 We met a little while ago, 03:06 and it's wonderful to visit with you again. 03:10 You're the director 03:11 of Operation Child Rescue in India. 03:14 Can you tell me a little bit, just briefly, 03:16 what that organization's all about? 03:19 Well, Jean, it's lovely to meet you again. 03:22 As the name suggests, Operation Rescue 03:24 is about rescuing women, children, babies, 03:28 who have been subjected to the worst kind of abuse 03:31 and who have been trafficked for different reasons. 03:34 It could be children who have been 03:36 forced to beg on the streets 03:38 or it could be children who are being forced to work 03:41 in hazardous industries like bag manufacturing, 03:46 basically working long hours and against their will 03:50 or it could be girls and women 03:51 who are trafficked to the worst of the brothels, 03:55 locked inside and forced to see customers 03:58 every day against their will. 04:01 And this is a global issue, 04:03 but you are headquartered in Bangalore, India. 04:08 Tell me how long have you been 04:09 doing this work yourself personally. 04:11 Well, it started about 10 years ago, 04:13 so 10 years is a good time to say 04:15 I have been doing this work. 04:17 We started off basically 04:19 looking at the whole issue of trafficking 04:22 and whether it existed in Bangalore 04:25 and where children being trafficked for 04:28 and we've ended up now doing rescues with the police 04:32 and finding rehabilitation options 04:35 for those whom we rescue. 04:37 We also do a little bit of prevention 04:39 in areas where we find more children going missing 04:42 or more girls being recruited for jobs 04:45 to prevent that from happening. 04:49 You know, it's hard to hear the stories 04:52 of what you're doing 04:53 because you're dealing with some 04:54 really, really sad situations. 04:57 Children are in danger, young women are in danger. 05:01 Let's talk for a minute about the young girls. 05:04 They are recruited from rural areas, typically. 05:07 Tell us a little bit about how do they get recruited 05:09 and what age are these girls. 05:12 Well, when we first started work 05:14 and when we first started rescues, the girls were... 05:16 the average age was about 17. 05:20 But today, the girls are much younger, 05:22 and the average age is close to 14. 05:26 Oh, my! 05:27 You know, really young girls 05:28 being recruited out of schools even. 05:32 You asked me about why they get recruited. 05:35 Well, it's a combination 05:37 of a different number of factors, 05:39 poverty being the number one factor 05:42 that makes them vulnerable to this. 05:44 So they're very poor, 05:46 they don't know about the issue of trafficking. 05:50 Usually, they don't have the scaling, 05:51 so they can't get jobs, 05:53 or they're in school but drop out 05:56 for different reasons, either to look after a sibling 05:59 or a parent not being well or the school just not being 06:04 important enough for them to complete education, 06:06 and so they are pulled out of school to get married. 06:09 And it's at this time that the traffickers 06:12 prey on these vulnerabilities. 06:14 You know, the girl is at home, 06:15 or the girl is looking for a job, 06:18 or the girl just wants 06:20 to get out of this poverty situation, 06:22 and they prey on this 06:24 and will go in and recruit them. 06:26 Sometimes they send in people and, 06:28 you know, fall in love with them 06:29 and promise a better life and to marry them. 06:33 Sometimes they offer them jobs, 06:34 they will come in and say, "We will get you a job." 06:38 And because they're so naive 06:41 and have no knowledge of what this is, 06:43 they will go with them, 06:44 but of course the job doesn't exist 06:46 on the other side or it exists in a much, much worse way 06:48 than they would've ever thought. 06:51 And sometimes when they take babies, 06:54 they kidnap them, so the younger children... 06:57 So just snatched from their mothers or their homes? 06:59 Yes, snatched from hospitals even. 07:01 Wow. 07:02 Even they've taken babies, kidnap babies from hospitals. 07:05 They take babies from orphanages, 07:09 or young children and they will sell them 07:11 to the begging syndicates. 07:13 Okay. 07:14 That put these children out on the streets, 07:16 and they have to bring in 07:17 a certain amount of money every day. 07:21 So these young girls 07:22 are willing to take sort of a risk 07:25 because they're vulnerable, 07:27 they're a little bit naive to the danger, 07:30 they're looking to help to their family 07:32 and or to support themselves, a number of factors. 07:36 As you go in, and you actually rescue girls 07:39 from these brothels, 07:41 just walk us through a little bit 07:42 how that process works. 07:47 I have learnt over the years 07:50 not to break down to react in the right ways. 07:53 My first time inside a brothel, I was terrified 07:56 because I didn't expect what we saw. 07:59 Usually, these places are... 08:01 They select places that are easy hiding places 08:05 so you have number of rooms inside a main entrance. 08:09 If it's a house or a building, it will have a number of rooms 08:12 and individual rooms that are used for commercial sex. 08:18 So when we enter these places, 08:19 we often have to bust the front door 08:22 or we have to enter in without them knowing it 08:25 so they're not alerted to it. 08:27 Okay. 08:28 We usually have a team of about 10 or 12 08:30 including a few police. 08:33 We run inside the place, we're always looking 08:35 to grab the girls before they're hidden 08:37 or before they're forced into some hiding place. 08:41 So surprise is key. 08:43 Surprise is key, safety for ourselves, 08:47 we're looking out for an escape route 08:49 in case something goes wrong 08:52 and we all are just stuck inside that place. 08:55 The girls themselves are taken by surprise. 08:59 Oftentimes they are scared, they will cry, 09:02 there's a lot of drama that happens inside 09:05 that the police are shouting, 09:06 the traffickers are trying to get out, 09:08 escape, you know, 09:09 they're trying to jump out of some place. 09:11 And then the girls themselves, you know, they're crying, 09:15 wondering what's going to happen. 09:18 At that point, we can't say that they are happy to see us 09:21 because they don't know who we are. 09:23 Are they questioning that you're there to help them? 09:26 Yes. Yes. Some... Oftentimes? Okay. 09:28 But the moment that initial drama is over, 09:31 then we get some quiet time. 09:33 Good. 09:34 To tell them who we are, and why we're there, 09:37 and that we really are interested 09:40 in their long-term future. 09:41 So it's not about now, it's about the future. 09:45 And then we want to see them out of this life 09:47 and many of them will break down 09:49 and cry and tell you the reason why they're there. 09:51 You know, they will say, 09:53 "We were so poor, so naive, 09:55 we didn't know, we were promised a job," 09:57 and the story is almost the same 10:00 again and again and again. 10:01 Over and over again. Yeah, it's... 10:03 You wonder how could people be like this when... 10:06 But you'd realize that they are all from different places. 10:09 Even if they were, say form Bangladesh 10:11 and we're seeing increasing number of girls 10:13 from Bangladesh and Nepal in Bangalore. 10:15 Brought into Bangalore. Yes, yes. 10:18 They don't know each other 10:20 and they're all recruited in the same way. 10:23 You Know, somebody marries them, 10:25 somebody promises them a job, brings them across the border, 10:28 puts them on a train, 10:30 tells them they're going for job in a massage parlor, 10:32 beauty parlor, as a housemaid, 10:35 and they end up in this building. 10:38 So the city of Bangalore, 10:39 it's an absolutely beautiful city. 10:41 It's an IT hub, it's a very... 10:44 what I noticed as a visitor 10:45 anyway coming to visit your city of Bangalore, 10:48 it's got a beautiful mix of modern 10:51 with the IT industry and rich history, 10:54 a lovely climate, 10:55 it's absolutely a wonderful place. 10:58 So in that city, 11:00 how do you then before you make these raids, 11:02 how do you learn and work to find out 11:05 where these brothels are? 11:06 How do you make those inroads before you have a rescue? 11:10 We have been working to develop these contacts. 11:14 Like you said, on the surface, it is a beautiful city. 11:18 We don't have a red light district 11:20 unlike in Mumbai and Calcutta, 11:22 they have areas where, 11:23 you know, these girls are being taken 11:26 and where sex is offered, 11:27 but Bangalore doesn't have that. 11:30 It used to be more of a pensioner's paradise 11:32 till it became an IT city. 11:34 Okay. 11:35 So everything is very hidden 11:38 which makes it more difficult for us 11:39 because we have to search. 11:41 We really have to look out for places 11:43 where these girls are being hidden, 11:45 where they're brought in. 11:46 So we have a team of investigators, 11:50 whose job is to befriend the underworld, 11:53 you know, befriend pimps, befriend auto rickshaw drivers 11:57 who will transport these girls, 11:59 befriend the people 12:01 that work in the really sidey hotels, 12:05 where the girls are pimped often. 12:08 And we sometimes go in as customers and clients, 12:11 sometimes as pimps ourselves 12:14 to try and access the information. 12:16 As to where these girls are being held. 12:18 And once we have that information 12:20 and we know for sure that in this building, 12:23 trafficking is... 12:24 we know trafficked girl is being held 12:26 or a brothel is being run, 12:28 then we go to the police with that information 12:30 completely charted out plan of rescue 12:34 including escape routes, entry, 12:37 number of people inside the building, 12:39 and the number of girls, the approximate ages, 12:44 as much information as we can 12:46 because before we go into the rescue, 12:49 we're not going to get another opportunity 12:51 or the police can't go in... 12:52 Right. 12:54 Before the rescue because there will be an alert. 12:57 So you sort of have to one chance to do it right. 13:00 Because there are no second chances. 13:02 Yes, yes. 13:05 As you just heard a need of share, 13:07 the problem of trafficking is rampant in India. 13:10 The dangers involved in this mission 13:12 to save these young girls from trafficking are many. 13:15 When we come back, we will hear from Anita 13:17 how Child Impact International is helping her and her team 13:20 with the rescue operations. 13:26 I just got a letter from our sponsored daughter Sheela. 13:29 I've got to tell you, 13:30 there is nothing like getting one of these letters. 13:33 Our family has been able to sponsor her 13:34 through Child Impact International. 13:37 And because of that, 13:38 she's got a great place to live. 13:39 She's got good food, she's got great clothing, 13:42 best of all, I now found out she's in college. 13:46 She's in nursing school. 13:47 There's nothing like getting a letter like this. 13:51 You need to start getting these letters too. 13:53 Listen, through Child Impact, 13:54 you can make a huge difference in the life of a child. 13:58 And I promise you, 13:59 it's going to make a huge difference 14:01 in your life too. 14:13 At every one of these mission schools, 14:14 like this one on Bangladesh, 14:16 Child Impact International sponsors hundreds of children. 14:20 We often think that sponsorship only impacts 14:23 on the life of the child, but it's much wider than that. 14:27 It impacts on the parents and on the community. 14:30 But more important, it impacts on the school. 14:34 It becomes valuable income for this school 14:37 and then in turn it impacts on hundreds of other children. 14:41 I just ask that you would consider 14:43 sponsoring a child with Child Impact 14:45 or supporting one of its valuable projects 14:48 that will improve education 14:50 and had been in these mission schools 14:52 like this one right here. 15:07 So, Anita, after you go in, you and your team, 15:10 and you actually go in 15:12 on these raids yourself personally, 15:14 these girls, you work with them for a little while. 15:17 Then what's the next step? 15:19 How do they transition from that life 15:22 back to somewhat a regular life? 15:25 Once we finish the rescues, 15:27 we take them to the police station 15:30 for a little bit, 15:32 where their stories are taken, their photos are taken, 15:34 and then we have to take them 15:37 to a government shelter according to the law. 15:41 The first place after their rescue 15:42 has to be the government shelter. 15:44 And these are basically sets of buildings with staff, 15:50 but they're not specific to trafficked victims. 15:53 So you can have abandoned girls there, 15:55 you can have a pregnant mother there, 15:59 you know, premarital. 16:01 You can have someone who has lost their family, 16:05 you can have somebody who's lost, 16:07 got off the train at the wrong stop. 16:09 So it's just a mixed group of people 16:12 inside that place 16:14 and these girls are taken to that place. 16:15 Usually, we do the rescues quite late at night. 16:19 For that surprise factor. Yes. 16:21 And so between about 2 am or 3 am, 16:24 we end up in this place. 16:26 So the girls are, you know, there are about three gates 16:32 before you get inside the place. 16:33 It's almost like a jail. It looks like that. It's... 16:37 Sounds intimidating. It is. 16:38 Then once there, 16:41 the girl's case has to come up for hearing, 16:44 and we have to find out their backgrounds. 16:48 Many times because it's a government-run shelter, 16:52 the traffickers can end up coming right there. 16:54 Really? 16:55 Yeah, they pose as an aunt, 16:57 a mother, a sister, a brother... 16:58 Okay. 17:00 The only relative in that place. 17:02 And because they have so many cases 17:05 and so many people turning up, they don't check credentials. 17:11 And so they can come, turn up with, 17:13 you know, a false document. 17:15 And we have had many such ones. 17:18 And they can release the girl or they get to see the girl 17:21 intimidate her more 17:22 or promise to get them out of that place 17:24 because by then the girls 17:26 really want to get out of that place. 17:27 They don't speak the local language, 17:29 the food is not something that they like. 17:32 Government-issued food essentially, yeah. 17:33 Yes. And then many times they've told us 17:36 that they are lice in the food or lice in the coffee. 17:38 Oh, my. 17:39 You know, yeah, and the others are really mean to them 17:41 because they find out 17:43 that they have been involved in sex, commercial sex, 17:46 and they label them the stigma of being in that place. 17:51 You know, you just want to get out. 17:53 They're desperate to get out. 17:54 Many times, these girls have tried to cut their wrists 17:57 and we get a call to say, 17:59 "Please come and take the girls you rescued out of this place 18:01 because they're disturbing everybody else." 18:04 And you go there and they say, 18:05 "We just want to go out of this place, 18:06 the brothel was better." 18:08 That's so harsh, so harsh. Sounds horrible. 18:11 How many days or how much time 18:13 are they in this place generally? 18:15 Well, it can be anything 18:16 between two months to two years. 18:18 Oh, wow. 18:20 Are they cared for their physical needs, I mean... 18:24 Oh, yes. I mean, I hate to be very... 18:27 I hate to talk about it. 18:29 But the life they were living in the brothel, 18:31 they had a lot of physical injuries I assume. 18:35 Obviously, it's emotional, mental, 18:36 are those things addressed at all in the government home? 18:41 The government does provide a shelter, 18:43 so there is food, there is a sense of... 18:47 they have water and clothes 18:49 and people talk to them, 18:52 but the abuse is sometimes is in different ways. 18:55 There's a lot of sexual abuse 18:56 that happens within those shelters, 18:58 especially to the younger children. 19:01 We did a rescue of boys 19:03 who had been trafficked 19:04 from Bihar to Bangalore for labor. 19:08 And some of these boys were aged 9 to 12. 19:11 And when we visited them about a week later, 19:14 a couple of them said, 19:16 they didn't like what all the boys were doing to them 19:19 which is implying sexual abuse 19:21 inside a government shelter 19:23 that is meant to be a protective place. 19:26 It sounds like it's taking them from a bad situation 19:31 and putting them in a so-so situation 19:34 and in that specific case, a worse situation. 19:38 So it doesn't sound like it's an answer, 19:40 but you also don't have a choice. 19:42 Yes. 19:44 So, Anita, you're a Christian, 19:48 what difference would it make to be able to take these girls 19:51 and put them in a Christian facility 19:53 where they were nurtured and cared for specifically? 19:58 Now, Jean, you're talking about a vision 20:00 that I have for these girls, every girl who's rescued. 20:05 You know, the sense of hopelessness 20:07 inside that place 20:08 when we walk into those brothels 20:09 or when we go into those places 20:12 where they are being forced to hide or to overwork, 20:17 there is just a deep sense of despair 20:20 and a darkness that is so obvious to us. 20:24 And when we get them out of that place, 20:26 what we want to give them to replace that 20:28 is the sense of hope that God cares about them, 20:32 that there is a future that He can build 20:35 and that He can restore 20:36 and that no matter what has happened to them, 20:39 they are still made in the image of God 20:41 and nobody can destroy that 20:43 and nothing can mar that. 20:47 But you see, they've never been told that, 20:50 they've been so abused inside that place 20:53 that they couldn't care about themselves. 20:56 So we, in our home, will have that opportunity 21:00 right from the start to just love all them, 21:04 to be able to give them that sense of hope 21:08 that they need not fear anymore, 21:10 they're not in a place 21:12 that anyone's going to abuse them. 21:14 In fact, they're going to receive the opposite 21:16 that there will be a sense of freedom 21:19 within that place 21:20 where they can make choices 21:22 and that those choices will be guided by good counseling 21:27 and that they will have options 21:29 whether they learn a new trade 21:31 or whether they go back to visit family. 21:33 It will all be under careful observation and supervision 21:38 to ensure that the best happens for these girls. 21:42 I think part of the story 21:44 that you tell that really breaks my heart 21:47 is when you share how these girls 21:49 once they're rescued, 21:51 some of them, a certain percentage of them, 21:54 do go back to that way of life 21:56 because of the shame 21:57 because they don't feel an option. 22:00 Have you seen the difference 22:03 that Christ makes for the girls? 22:05 Is that the difference that keeps them 22:07 from going back to their lifestyle? 22:10 I think it is the main difference. 22:13 Jean, I mean, to be able to pray with the girls 22:16 and we do pray with the girls. 22:18 You know that I told you we get some private time 22:20 either at the police station or at the brothel 22:22 before we take them to the government shelter. 22:25 We almost always talk to them about God and pray with them 22:29 because that's the only private time we'll get 22:32 before we are under supervised visits 22:36 in the government shelter. 22:37 But if we had a home, 22:39 we can pray with them every day, 22:40 we can pray with them and counsel them, 22:42 and tell them about our God who loves them, 22:45 and help them to come to terms with that. 22:47 I mean, many of them ask us, "Why? 22:50 Why do you want to do this for us? 22:52 You know, why would you be here?" 22:53 Because I always tell them, 22:55 I'm a mother myself and I have two daughters, 22:58 I know what it feels like to be inside this place 23:02 wondering what's going to happen next. 23:04 And they always say, "Why do you take this risk?" 23:07 And I tell them, "It's because God has called 23:10 some of us to these things 23:11 and because of God who took the risk for us, 23:14 I mean, that He came for us 23:17 that we might have a life that is free." 23:19 And, you know, they're so open 23:22 to listening to the Gospel, to knowing, 23:26 but the most important thing, Jean, 23:27 is for them to see the Gospel in action, 23:31 and that's what we managed to do that. 23:33 Okay. 23:34 What drives you each and every day 23:37 to continue to put your own life in danger? 23:41 You're on the frontlines doing this, 23:42 and I imagine your husband worries. 23:45 What keeps you going to do this? 23:50 I think the call that God had on my life 23:53 and which I realized about 10 years ago 23:55 when I went out on my first rescue mission, 23:59 and just the thought of these girls out there 24:04 and that, you know, something might happen to them 24:06 that they may never hear about our God who loves them. 24:10 Being an Indian woman myself, a mother of daughters, 24:15 just wanting to do the best that we can for these girls. 24:20 It's funny I never 24:21 was a brave or courageous person growing up. 24:24 In fact, I was very timid. I don't believe it. 24:26 Very timid, very shy. Really? 24:28 Yeah, I hated standing up in front anything but... 24:32 And I still am very afraid before we go on a rescue. 24:35 Everybody knows that I have my private time. 24:38 But when we finish the prayer, 24:40 before the raiding team is out of the door, 24:45 I know that God has gone before us 24:47 and He's already there. 24:48 I mean, there are times, Jean, 24:50 that we search the building for the girls 24:53 and we just don't know where they've hidden them. 24:56 And somehow God shows us where that hidden place is 25:00 whether it's, you know, whether it's a hole in the wall 25:03 that has been sealed up 25:05 and we have to break through that 25:06 or whether it's a hotel reception desk, 25:11 and you open draw and it's a staircase... 25:13 Really? 25:14 Into a cellar where the girls have been pushed. 25:17 It is God because, you know, none of us have had 25:20 any kind of investigative training. 25:22 And when God shows up there, we know that we keep going on. 25:27 He's going before you. Yes. 25:29 And you're trusting in Him. Yes. 25:31 Well, I have a hard time 25:32 imagining you as timid young girl. 25:35 You're a great inspiration to myself 25:38 and many who have met you, I know you are. 25:41 Well, I just praise that you and Operation Child Rescue 25:45 are doing what you're doing, Anita, 25:47 that you are facing these problems 25:49 that you're there dealing with it. 25:52 You know, it's really hard for those of us 25:54 who don't see it with our own eyes 25:57 to really comprehend the level of danger, 26:02 the horrors that these children go through, 26:05 but I just thank you 26:07 for what you're doing for the ministry 26:09 that you have, and I'm just wondering 26:11 if we can pray together. 26:12 Yes, please. Please. 26:15 Dear God in heaven, You see what's happening in India. 26:18 You see into the lives of the young women 26:22 who are vulnerable in the rural areas 26:25 and, Lord, You see the horrors more that we can even imagine. 26:28 But Father, we love You, 26:30 and we know that You created each of us 26:32 and that You love us each individually 26:34 that You created each of us for a purpose. 26:37 Father, I ask that You'll go with Anita and her team 26:40 as they continue to rescue these vulnerable people, 26:44 these children, these young men, 26:46 these young women from the dangers 26:48 that they find themselves in. 26:49 Father, protect them and may Your light, 26:53 Lord, change their lives for eternity. 26:57 Lord, we place Anita and her team in your care, 27:01 we ask for Your grace 27:02 and Your hand over this process, 27:04 in Jesus' name, amen. 27:07 Anita, it's always a pleasure visiting you. 27:09 Thank you. Thank you, Jean. 27:17 Current estimates tell us 27:18 that more than 1.2 million children 27:21 are caught up in human trafficking 27:22 in India alone. 27:24 The numbers are truly staggering. 27:26 But thanks to people like Anita 27:27 and programs like Operation Child Rescue. 27:30 These young girls and boys 27:32 can be rescued and rehabilitated. 27:34 You can play a vital role in helping 27:36 Child Impact International in its rescue efforts. 27:39 Voice of Prophecy has partnered with Child Impact 27:42 to build a rehabilitation home in Bangalore, India, 27:45 to provide a safe place 27:47 where young girls can be given hope, healing, 27:50 and to learn new skills all in a Christian environment. 27:53 Please pray for Anita and her team in India. 27:56 And if you would like to help 27:57 or get more information on Operation Child Rescue, 28:00 please contact Child Impact International. |
Revised 2018-03-15