As we approach the 10th anniversary of Caritas Bakhita House, our safe house for survivors of trafficking and exploitation, we’re sharing the stories of the some of the women who have passed through its doors in the last decade; stories of suffering, resilience, healing and hope.
Hajira arrived in the UK about 25 years ago. Her husband had died and her two children had left school but still needed financial support. She was told that by coming to England, she would earn enough money to send home for her children to buy a family home.
When she arrived, Hajira was taken to a house in North London where she remained for over 20 years, working seven days a week for 12 hours or longer. Her traffickers deliberately isolated her so that she would not learn enough English to seek help. They were sending home less than £300 a month to her son, and she did not know the value this equated to or that she was being exploited.
This arrangement continued until a neighbour called Police, who visited the address and found Hajira. She was sleeping under the kitchen table, and her belongings were stored in a shed. It was also subsequently discovered that Hajira’s son had stolen the money and left her with nothing.
Hajira’s exploiters are now under investigation, and while the Police conduct their inquiries, we at Caritas Bakhita House are assisting Hajira to rebuild her life.
Since coming to the centre, Hajira has been reconnected to her brother, whom she trusts immensely. She required medical attention when she arrived, and needed to learn to eat properly again after having been fed leftovers for many years. She loves to go for walks, and finds it incredible that she can leave the house to go where she wants, when she wants.
During her first few months with us, Hajira would not leave the house without someone by her side, but each day she achieves a little more. She has made friends in the house who have since left, and still meets up with them for walks.
Little by little, Hajira’s world is becoming a better place — but moving on after years of isolation and not being taught to read or write in any language also brings its challenges: simple things like using an ATM or navigating public transport remain difficult. Indeed, on the day Hajira learned to write her own name, we all celebrated as if she had won an Olympic gold! Because for someone who has been through so much, even moments that others take for granted are truly nothing short of heroic.
Hajira is now a pensioner, but we are grateful that we can play our part in finally granting her some years of much-deserved happiness and freedom.
Hajira’s is just one of over 200 stories of the women who have passed through Caritas Bakhita House in the last 10 years. With your support, the centre can continue to provide safety and life-changing help to hundreds more women who are fleeing from trafficking and slavery; crimes that continue in our society today.
