Althea’s dreams for her life were crushed by the nightmare of cybersex trafficking. We all have hopes and dreams for the future, whether it’s going to college, forging a meaningful career, or creating a better life for our children.
Althea wanted those same things. But as a young teenager, her dreams for a hope-filled future were crushed by cybersex trafficking. The nightmare began one completely normal day after high school when Althea went to her good friend’s house to do homework. Althea loved being invited to her friend’s home. It was a big house, warm, and inviting. There was good food to eat and her friend’s mom always took an interest in Althea and told her how lovely and beautiful she was.
1 in 6 children are sexually abused.
Unfortunately things started to change, and I noticed that my friends’ mum, would invite specific male friends over. Soon not only were they coming over, but I was being taken out on “trips” where I was sexually abused. I was truly afraid these men, they had warned be quite harshly, that I was never to speak of this. My life was in danger and they had occasionally threatened to hurt my family. So I stayed silent.
At one point this woman befriended my parents and convinced them, that she could give me a better life studying abroad. My parents truly wanted the best for me, and thought that I would have many more opportunities in a different country. But once I moved, my passport was seized and I became a victim of sex trafficking. I never went to school and I was hidden inside at all times. Eventually my parents were able to track me down and I was able to move back to my home country. The men never tried to contact me but I was still terrified and didn’t speak about what had happened until I was in my mid twenties. I never told my parents. I think it would break them to know what I have been through. The support that I received has been enough for me to go back to school and study nursing.