A Trafficked Child's Survivor Story: Victoria
Portrayal of a victim
Name and image has been changed to protect the survivor
Victoria was sexually and mentally abused from a young age. Her mother was a drug addict and her father frequently beat her. She was only 12-years-old when she met 28-year-old John. John offered Victoria safety, love, and protection, something her parents never gave her. She trusted him without a second thought, and left home with him.
He took her on dates and gave her a safe place to stay. “At first, he was sweet,” Victoria remembers. “But then things turned. Not too long after we met, I was walking the tracks [the streets], working brothels and strip clubs.”
Portrayal of a victim
Victoria was forced to “work” long hours, often sleeping with 20-30 men a night. Her body would ache, but if she refused to work John would beat her and threaten to kill her. A few times, he even told Victoria that he would sell her to another country.
Many times, police would drive by Victoria while she was working on the streets. She wanted to stop them and ask for help, but she had no family to return to and knew that the state would place her in foster care. “I wanted to say ‘Help me.’ But as a girl with no family, I would be just a foster kid. So I shut up and kept working,” Victoria said.
She was 18-years-old when she finally found the courage to ask for help. John had left Victoria at his house alone. He would do this sometimes. In the four years he had known her, Victoria had never tried to run. But on this day, Victoria had had enough.
As soon as John had left the house, Victoria snuck out and ran to the nearest police officer. She told the officer that she was a runaway. He contacted Victoria’s foster care caseworker. Soon, Victoria was traveling to Alabama to take part in the recovery programs provided by The WellHouse.
“I am learning about self worth. I finally have dreams!” says Victoria.
Now, Victoria is healing from the years of sexual and mental exploitation she experienced at the hands of her trafficker and parents. “I am learning about self worth. I finally have dreams!” says Victoria.
Victoria has found a passion for art during her time at The WellHouse and would like to pursue a career as an artist after she graduates from the program. She also hopes to be “a good wife and mother one day far from now.”