Durga Finds Her Calling

As our daughters transform from trafficking victims to leaders for change, they are encouraged to use their pain as a platform to help others. As a result of their desire to eliminate the threat of trafficking in Nepal and to keep their Nepali sisters safe, an increasing number of restored daughters are becoming team members, bringing our dream of a daughter-led movement into reality.

Going forward, each quarterly newsletter will introduce a different team member so that they can become a part of your daily thoughts and prayers. Today, meet Durga, a long-time member of the ODI family and incredible hero to many of our daughters.

Born into a poor family in western Nepal, Durga was abandoned by her parents after birth. She grew up with her maternal grandmother who loved her dearly. When Durga reached 15 years of age, she was lured by her friends to go to India in search of a better life. She was told about the amazing opportunities that awaited her if she left her village. Without informing her family, Durga decided to leave and run away with her friends.

Upon reaching an Indian city called Butwal, Durga was secretly drugged. She was then sold to a brothel in India where she spent the next seven excruciating years. She recalls being asked to serve 20-25 men per day. If she disagreed, they would torture her by refusing to give her the drugs that they had forced her to take in order to create an addiction.

One day, on the way to a hotel, Durga gathered up the courage to run away. She was rescued by our team in India. After spending several months in our Safe Home where Durga received intense counseling and rehabilitation for her drug addiction, Durga found her passion.

"I know that I want to give my life to helping my fellow sisters escape the horror of human trafficking. I never want anyone else to experience what I experienced."

Durga excelled as a student in the Social Leadership Development Training Program and, after graduation, joined our team at the Birgunj border station as a border counselor. She has worked there for four years and personally rescued over 100 victims of trafficking. Durga is now married and has a beautiful daughter. She continues to stay committed to her passion and is determined that sharing her story of redemption will give hope to hundreds of more daughters like her.