By Lyne TK, Sr. Maureen Ogundeph
The World Women's Observatory works hand in hand with different organisations to ensure the invisible women are listened to and through networking this is possible.
In Kenya, the coordination and partnering with the AOSK Talithakum Kenya initiative (Association of Sisterhoods in Kenya) bears tremendous fruits.
Another way of networking is through the volunteered WWO Ambassadors who have offered themselves to assist the invisible and the voiceless.
Women go through a lot and at times they lack someone to listen to them to guide them, to empower them, and to assist them to establish themselves.
This is why the World Women Observatory tries to collaborate with others and to incorporate all who are willing to be ambassadors.
Lyne is both a victim and a survivor of human trafficking. She describes her experience as a harrowing journey, one that has taught her the depths of despair and the resilience of the human spirit.
Human trafficking, an international scourge, thrives in the shadows of society, preying on the vulnerable with ruthless efficiency. Yet, amidst the darkness, there are glimmers of hope, beacons of light that offer solace to those lost in the abyss.
Lyne grew up in a small town in Uganda, she harboured dreams of being a hero, of saving those in need and making a difference in the world. Her mother, with her boundless wisdom, often joked about her penchant for bringing home stray children, reminding her that humans were not pets to be adopted at whim. But as she grew older, life threw her curveballs, shattering her illusions of grandeur and forcing her to confront the harsh realities of adulthood.
Navigating the challenges of a broken home and the weight of familial responsibilities, she found refuge in the field of social work. It was a lifeline, a way to channel her passion for helping others into meaningful action. However, when her world was rocked by the news of her parent's terminal illness, she was plunged into a maelstrom of fear and uncertainty. Desperate for a solution, she grasped at straws, hoping for a lifeline to pull her from the depths of despair.
It was then that she received an offer, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. A friend of a friend promised her a lucrative job overseas, a chance to escape the confines of her reality and provide for her family in their time of need. Blinded by desperation and fueled by the promise of a better future, she accepted without question, unaware of the horrors that awaited her on the other side.
Upon her arrival in a foreign land, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in February 2023, she swiftly came to understand the stark reality veiled behind the promise of opportunity. Deprived of her basic freedoms and stripped of her dignity, she found herself ensnared in the cruel machinations of human trafficking, subjected to a litany of horrors – discrimination, violence, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse. Men were ushered into the confines of the house to exploit her sexually, while she endured the agony of drug-induced haze and merciless beatings for daring to resist their demands. Each passing day became a gruelling battle for survival, a relentless struggle to preserve her sanity and preserve my identity in a world devoid of empathy. Reduced to nothing more than an object of gratification, she suffered the indignity of being treated as a mere rug upon which the whims and desires of others were callously fulfilled. Amidst the darkness, bitterness became her only solace, as she contemplated the heartbreaking decision to terminate a pregnancy conceived in the depths of her despair, carrying twins whose father remained a mystery.
But amidst the darkness, there were moments of light, small glimmers of hope that kept her going. A chance encounter with a fellow captive sparked a flicker of defiance within her, a determination to break free from the chains that bound them. With courage as her guide, she orchestrated a daring escape, navigating the treacherous landscape with the resilience of a survivor.
Finding refuge within institutions such as AOSK Talithakum International – Kenya (TI-K), she discovered a haven. Encircled by fellow survivors and empathetic champions, she commenced a journey of recovery, painstakingly assembling the remnants of her fractured essence. With their steadfast assistance and mentorship, she unearthed her resilience, her value, and her capacity to articulate her truth. Additionally, she concealed her pregnancy and eventually delivered her twins.
Her journey is one of pain and redemption, of despair and hope. It is a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be silenced by the darkness, and who stand together in solidarity against the horrors of human trafficking. And as she emerges from the shadows, she pledges to lend her voice to the chorus of change, to shine a light on the darkness and ensure that no one ever walks alone in the fight for freedom and justice.
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