Smitha - Brave, Determined, Full of Potential
- Freedom Firm USA
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Smitha grew up in a small house in a crowded slum with her parents and four younger siblings. She was kindhearted and compassionate—the sort of girl who loved animals and was careful not to waste water. But when her father lost his job at a bakery and her family lost their home to slum redevelopment, poverty forced them into greater hardship.
One day, a neighbor invited Smitha to what she thought was a birthday party. It should have been a joyful experience in a young girl’s life. Instead, it was a trap—Smitha was deceived and sold into prostitution.
In February 2022, the police conducted a raid and rescued Smitha from a brothel in Maharashtra. Unfortunately, she was sent back to her vulnerable environment and, shortly after, was re-trafficked when a friend invited her to visit her sister in a nearby village.
In the middle of the night, Smitha was drugged and sold by an auto rickshaw driver to a brothel keeper 150 miles from her home.
On July 14, 2022, Freedom Firm investigators located Smitha and worked with the police to rescue her from the brothel. She was just fifteen years old.
Smitha was placed in a private shelter home in Pune, where she began the long process of healing. Freedom Firm provided her with counseling, life skills sessions, and the opportunity to study.
Smitha had only studied up to 7th grade. While in the shelter home, she was able to continue her education and recently completed 10th grade. Smitha applied to college and received a letter of acceptance. But after purchasing her textbooks, uniform, and other essentials, the college cited that Smitha lacked some requirements and revoked her admission. This left her with no time to apply elsewhere. She was heartbroken—but she did not give up.
After completing a six-month cosmetology course, Smitha is now learning tailoring. She is a responsible young woman who is close to her mother and works hard to carry the weight of providing for her family.
Smitha has not given up on her dreams and plans to apply to other colleges. She is brave, determined, and full of potential.
Our social worker recently visited Smitha at her aunt and uncle’s house. Despite her disappointment over the college's rejection, Smitha was in a cheerful mood. She had recently celebrated her 19th birthday, so her uncle hosted an enormous party and invited the neighbors to their small home. He even hired a DJ, and Smitha's aunt made a large pot of biryani. Smitha's aunt and uncle said they wanted to make up for all the birthdays Smitha had missed celebrating with them. They went to extra lengths to make her feel cherished.
Our social worker joined in the festivities and surprised Smitha with a birthday cake. Once again, Smitha experienced what it means to be loved and valued, and she is finally free to live.
When you join hands with Freedom Firm, you not only help to bring freedom to a young girl like Smitha–you also help her take each step as she finds her way back into light and life.
Will you donate today at freedomfirm.org? Together, we can bring each girl back into the light of day and set her free to live.
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