{"id":13630,"date":"2023-07-20T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/?p=13630"},"modified":"2023-07-27T19:45:45","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T00:45:45","slug":"ten-dollars-or-less-genevas-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.destinyrescue.org\/blog\/ten-dollars-or-less-genevas-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten Dollars or Less: Geneva\u2019s Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When Geneva\u2019s father left them, he took the family\u2019s only source of income with him.\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

The Zimbabwean family of six quickly found themselves struggling to attain even the most basic necessities. Without any clear options ahead, Geneva and her little sister began to sell their bodies for whatever men would offer them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Geneva sat down for an interview with us to talk about the struggles she and her sister faced and how life has changed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then<\/span><\/h2>\n

The vibrant young woman looked down at her hands as she remembered her daily existence before rescue. \u201cMy life was difficult,\u201d she recalled. \u201cNo one at home was working.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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“Sunset in a Zimbabwe village” by masondan is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. No changes were made to this image.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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In many countries, school isn\u2019t a free service. And when money starts getting tight, school is often the first expense to be removed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to school, but my parents didn\u2019t have enough money for me to proceed,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having lost access to education, the primary means of gaining legitimate work, the girls were left in a saturated work environment with no prospects for youngsters without a skill set. And because survival was a daily life-or-death challenge, they had to find a way to make a living quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That\u2019s when they were forced to sell themselves to support their family.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n

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\u201cThese big, big men\u2014they hire you for maybe (USD)$10 each, and then they go with you\u2026 and then you do anything he wants you to,\u201d Geneva recalled, shaking her head. \u201cAnd then he gives you maybe $10.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But even that small amount wasn\u2019t a guarantee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because the \u201cclients\u201d were in such a position of power, they could give the child essentially any measly amount they wanted. And negotiation was never an option.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose men are <\/span>abusive<\/span><\/i>,\u201d Geneva said emphatically. \u201cYou can\u2019t say anything because you get brutally beaten up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She had no power to control her destiny\u2014no power to make any positive shift in her life. Every act of abuse was just a chance to get enough money to feed the family one more day. Geneva remembered the desperation and resignation that came with such a crippling lack of control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen someone said, \u2018I have a dollar,\u2019 I would just say \u2018yes\u2019 and go with that guy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The effect on a young soul, Geneva said, is crushing: \u201cIt is not a happy environment to be in. You get squashed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now<\/h2>\n

All that began to change when Geneva and her sister met our agents. Thei<\/span>r rescue team is active in the community and canvasses the area in search of children enduring exploitation. Agents network with key individuals such as village leaders or community health workers so they know they’re there to help if they see exploitation happening in their spheres.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They also talk directly with groups of children in the community so they know help is available. Once an agent is aware of a situation, she and her fellow agents continue to gather information about the case and connect with the child and her family to establish a safety plan and begin the enrollment process for Destiny Rescue’s program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When their team offered freedom, the sisters saw an opportunity to escape\u2014and they took it. What followed were weeks of counseling and healing as the girls began their new lives of freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the difficulties that forced them into exploitation hadn\u2019t disappeared. The large family still needed money for rent, food, and school fees. So, Geneva\u2019s caseworker talked with her about how we could equip her to make a living.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGeneva went into beauty therapy training, something she has always wanted to do, and she loved it right from the word \u2018go’,\u201d her caseworker said. \u201c(She) turned out to be good at what she does and has gained more confidence and\u2026more customers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Geneva preparing her workspace<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

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Now Geneva is an accomplished beautician with clients who specifically ask for her services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her caseworker gushed about her progress: \u201cShe is able to take care of herself and her son and the rest of the family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Life after rescue can still be hard<\/span><\/a>, but thanks to Geneva\u2019s dedication and our individualized economic empowerment programs, she\u2019s providing for her family with a stable job that she enjoys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about our economic empowerment programs.<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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If you\u2019d like to be a part of rescuing kids and giving them long-term safe and sustainable solutions, please join us by following the link below. <\/span><\/h5>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n