Sumi had a story and a voice.

Sumi, a teenager from an extremely impoverished village in Nepal, accepted a ride from a kind truck driver while walking the two hours home from her daily trek to collect water. He kidnapped her and assaulted body and soul for endless days. The nightmare was to continue as he smuggled her to the border to be sold, but a partner of Our Daughters International, was suspicious, and Sumi was rescued! She spent six months in an safe house, healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually, before returning to her village. Back home, Sumi was determined to protect the other girls from danger, and she knew the long walks for clean water made them vulnerable.

But, Sumi had a story and a voice. She shared her experiences and urged the community to dig their own wells. The village requested help from our partner organization, and four wells were dug nearby, sustaining 1,000 families, and protecting hundreds of girls. Sumi became recognized as a local leader, and she continues to advocate for positive changes in her community today.