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John,
Today, Khemraj and his family are thriving in freedom. Their days are filled with hope, thanks to friends like you.
But that wasn’t always the case. Not long ago, Khemraj and his family were trapped in forced labor, working at a brick kiln. It was a harsh life of abuse and exploitation that began years earlier, when Khemraj's parents died.
Unable to afford their funerals, Khemraj borrowed from people in his community and promised to repay them. He worked hard to repay but felt unsettled when he still owed people money five years later. Out of desperation, he agreed to work with his family at a brick kiln in exchange for a cash advance.
When they arrived at the brick kiln, they realized they had been deceived. Khemraj and his family were forced to wake at 4 a.m. and make bricks until 10 p.m., with only a brief break for lunch.
After three years of keeping his part of the agreement, his debt was not cleared because he wasn’t paid what he was promised. "I was scared and troubled," Khemraj said. "I started looking for a way to leave but could not figure out how. I lost hope of becoming free again." |
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Thankfully, IJM's local partner, Jai Bhim Vikas Shikshan Sanstham (JBVSS), had been investigating this brick kiln and collecting evidence of the owner's misdeeds. They and local authorities intervened and Khemraj and his family were finally brought to freedom.
Your gift today will help restore more survivors like Khemraj and work to bring an end to forced labor and other forms of human trafficking. Please join us.
“Today, I am free. My children and I are living happily, working with joy, and doing things we like,” Khemraj says.
Give now to help bring freedom and restoration to families still trapped in modern slavery. Thank you.
Until all are free,
The IJM Team |
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