Here at Timbelo, we love to share stories about people who were brave enough to leave their traffickers and of immediate-response organizations that help them. Stories that don't typically get as much attention, however, are ones that end before they even truly begin.

Ryan Berg was preparing for a work trip to India when he saw a disturbing story on a cable news program. Children were being rescued from human trafficking in a brothel in the very city he was about to visit. Ryan and his wife saw this glaring need and decided to fill it in specific and holistic ways.

Today, we would like to share some books written by survivors! Check out these books to hear about these survivors' experiences straight from them, and support them in their future.

This month's featured episode of the Ending Human Trafficking podcast is all about Ben Skinner and how he works to end labor trafficking!

It is often said that ending human trafficking is a "team effort" that requires many different gifts, talents, specialties, etc. In this story, Jacob, a young Destiny Rescue agent located in the Dominican Republic, utilized some creativity and even some acting skills to safely bring a young girl home to her family.

“My clients are the strongest people I’ve ever met,” she says. “It’s about being a resource for them, not at rescuer.”

12-year-old Barbara Amaya was a pretty normal little girl. After suffering abuse at the hands of her family, however, she became severely depressed and decided to run away from her abusers and her home.

People seem to think that those in trafficking are just waiting around for a rescuer. But that’s not exactly the case.

As we here at Timbelo learn more about anti-human trafficking work, two things become very apparent. Firstly, trafficking does not happen in a vacuum. Secondly, we continue to learn that just as many factors feed into human trafficking, solving this issue will require a diverse group of problem solvers.

Sometimes, the concern for others' safety is more motivating than our own safety. This was definitely the case for Ursel Hughes. Ursel was twenty years old when she became pregnant, and her pimp was the father.

Every human trafficking abolitionist has to begin their journey somewhere, and this month's featured advocate started in the United States Navy.

Whether it be legal, medical, financial, or emotional, layers of support are crucial to helping those coming out of a trafficking situation.

When a human trafficking survivor comes forward to share their experience and seek justice against their trafficker, they are also embarking on an incredibly arduous journey. Between navigating the legal system and trying to heal from intense trauma, survivors need all the support they can get. That's where people like Alex Fehder come in.

Parents will do anything for their children. They will protect them at all costs, make difficult decisions, and work their fingers to the bone to provide for their families. It is for this very reason that desperate parents are easy targets for traffickers promising stability and prosperity.

Meet our Cause Strategist, Hannah Barnes!