Barsha

Married at 16, Barsha was abused and neglected daily by her husband and his family. When the abuse became unbearable, she ran away with dreams of pursuing an education. She decided to head towards the city without any plan or resources to sustain her.

An acquaintance she met while trying to get herself settled told her he could arrange for Barsha to marry a doctor in India. She dreamed about what it would be like to marry a man who would love her and provide her with nice things in life. The idea was too hard to resist.

On her way across the border to India, Barsha was stopped and interviewed by our partners’ Border Counselors. They explained she was likely a victim of trafficking, and that there was no doctor waiting to marry her in India. Instead, they invited her to join the program at the Training Center to learn a skill and become independent.

Fast forward and Barsha has now completed a course in fashion design and has graduated from college with a degree in journalism. She is currently volunteering as an assistant house warden at our partner’s Safe Home and is hoping to serve the Daughters full time.

“I had never felt loved by my family, even the family I married into did not accept me, but I found acceptance here. I found a future here, and for that I am grateful.”