The Exodus Road

These girls' childhoods were stolen. We're helping to restore them. At Freedom Home, our aftercare shelter in Thailand, the trafficking survivors who live there are given the gifts of trauma therapy, healthcare, and legal support— but they're also given the simple miracle of normal life. They participate in house chores and life skills, build friendships with each other, laugh, sing, and dance. Their ordinary joy is part of healing from extreme abuse. This restoration is part of what you empower when you support The Exodus Road. Thank you for how you participate in these girls' journeys!

Today we want you to meet Chandra (pseudonym), an 18-year-old girl from Thailand. Chandra lives at Freedom Home, our residential aftercare home for survivors of trafficking. She is a creative dreamer, and she has a message she wanted us to share with you: “Hello, my name is Chandra. I have been a resident of Freedom Home for ten months. While being here I have cooked breakfasts, baked cakes, and made flower bouquets. I like baking and flower crafting the most. I have also gained much knowledge on how to live my life, how to look after myself, and how to survive on my own. My dream is to open a small coffee shop in my hometown. It would be like having the job of my dreams. The smell of beans brewing is beautiful. I feel extremely lucky to be a part of Freedom Home, where you actually get change for the better in your life. Thank you to all the staff members who have been so nice to me, the housekeepers who never allowed me to overrun myself and taught me how to cook and do house chores, and my friends who have always been there for me. I will never forget the days I spent at Freedom Home, and I will always cherish everyone that I met there.”

Have you ever wanted to know what happens undercover in the fight against trafficking? The Exodus Road has gathered countless top-secret stories as we’ve worked to bring freedom to over 2,800 exploited men, women, and children. We’re revealing some of the most powerful accounts in the uniquely immersive storytelling event DECLASSIFIED. On two identical nights on January 30 and 31, you are invited to gather with us and other like-minded anti-trafficking advocates and dedicated supporters of The Exodus Road at The Pinery at the Hill in Colorado Springs. This confidential evening will bring you into previously unheard stories from our frontline efforts, as told by some of the investigative team who lived them. You’ll also experience original live music from Remedy Drive’s David Zach and hear directly from courageous individuals who have survived human trafficking. Get your tickets now!

Dismantling this humanitarian crisis cannot be accomplished in a silo. It takes a thoughtful and holistic system of partners including technology providers, philanthropic organizations and invested community leaders to support law enforcement and drive change. The strength is in the collaboration—where everyone involved is driven by the common goal of justice for survivors and disrupting the cycle of this horrendous crime. Read more from our Co-Founder and Chief Investigative Officer Matt Parker, who wrote about The Exodus Road's strategic partnership with Cellebrite:

Do you want to be part of a global team making a real difference in the fight against human trafficking? The Exodus Road is hiring a Grant Manager! Learn more about this position at theexodusroad.com/careers. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to careers@theexodusroad.com with the job title in the subject line.

"I couldn't come back because I didn't have the money. I had to just bow my head and continue." Valentina was just 18 years old when she was trafficked to the Dominican Republic, far from her home country. That's where The Exodus Road found her. This survivor's world-changing strength would ultimately lead to freedom for 45 more women and girls — and to a new life for her, complete with her infant son.  She says, "Everything has a solution. No matter how dark the road is, the light is always there." Read Valentina's powerful story of overcoming:

December 10 is #HumanRightsDay. This is what we want to say about it as a global anti-trafficking nonprofit: Human trafficking itself is an egregious violation of human rights. Today, in 2024, there are 50 million people around the world who are trapped in modern-day slavery. Human trafficking is more likely to occur where there are deprivations of human rights. Conditions such as war, conflict, and poverty create unstable environments in which human rights abuses can thrive. The inequality and power imbalances that exist within these environments can encourage human trafficking and related forms of exploitation to take place. Human Rights Day serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom and dignity for all. By upholding human rights, we prevent grave injustices like human trafficking and offer protection to those already experiencing exploitation. When rights are upheld, individuals and communities are empowered to live safe and dignified lives. On this Human Rights Day, we challenge you to take action against injustices in our world by not only standing up for your rights but also those of marginalized groups around the world.

Lalita (a pseudonym) is 17 years old. She enjoys school and making candles, and she dreams of being a police officer or a doctor. She is also a survivor of sex trafficking. Lalita lives at Freedom Home, our aftercare shelter for survivors of exploitation in Thailand. Lalita wrote a letter to you, explaining how much her life has changed in the 8 months she’s been there. Here’s what she has to say: “At Freedom Home, I have enjoyed the knowledge and opportunities which have been given to me: the basic discipline, how to cook, good etiquette, other social norms, and self-awareness. I also learned how to make scented candles, which can become an income-generating activity for me and my family in the future. When I am out of Freedom Home, I will strive to make sure I get a job that will enable me to support my family adequately. I either want to be a police officer or a doctor. Being a police officer, I would like to be able to save lives and make people safe. Being a doctor, I will be able to take care of my family and other people who are sick. Freedom Home has made a big positive impact in my new life through giving me a chance to learn and carry out other activities in my life. Last but not least, I want to use this opportunity to thank the staff and house mothers for being always so kind and helpful whenever I am troubled or facing hard times.” Thank you for being a part of Lalita’s new life!

16-year-old Azul (a pseudonym) was uniquely vulnerable. As a LGBTQ+ teenager, it could be difficult for them to find belonging.  When they found a community group full of other LGBTQ+ youth in their area of Latin America, it may have seemed like they finally had a safe place. Sadly, that was far from the truth. Adult men preyed on the teenagers in the group, grooming and then coercing them into exploitation for explicit videos. Azul was ensnared over time by a man whose interest seemed flattering — at first. It quickly turned into something dark and twisted. Azul’s abuse was filmed and sold online, and the teenager was exploited over and over with each new viewer.  The Exodus Road’s Latin American team discovered Azul’s abuser through their routine online investigation. As they learned more about the man’s predatory business, they found out that he had been in contact with and exploiting Azul for a long time.  Our team worked with officials to remove Azul and take them to safety. Despite their vulnerability, Azul courageously shared about the experiences that other young people in their community group were having. Law enforcement will be able to continue pursuing additional perpetrators to dismantle this network. In every country, LGBTQ+ youth are one of the most at-risk groups of being trafficked. Kids like Azul deserve true belonging — not the kind that comes at the expense of their safety. Thank you for providing that for them through your support!

On Giving Tuesday, you showed up to say that kids like Camila in Latin America should NEVER be sold — and with the added impact of sponsors who matched each gift, we raised over $130,000! Every single donation will be a part of extending freedom to more kids who are waiting for freedom right now in Latin America, the United States, Thailand, India, the Philippines, and Brazil. Thank you so much for standing with us in support of these priceless lives!