Our Partnership with 10ThousandWindows​

Grace* thought she was on the pathway to economic freedom after being trafficked for sex as a teenager. She finished high school and one year of college with the support of 10ThousandWindows and had just started a new job at a local bakery. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Philippines economy contracted nearly overnight, and Grace found herself in lockdown and unemployed. Grace had to support her extended family, but there were no jobs to be found. Grace felt hopeless. She and her family members tried to make ends meet by selling food packs and snacks in their neighborhood, but it was never enough. The financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis was stressful on Grace and her entire family, and their risks of taking unsafe, exploitative work were high.

When Grace heard about the Work-Study Program, she was eager to join other survivors of trafficking and exploitation in the part-time internship program. The stipends she earned made a big difference for her family, allowing them to buy food and other essentials. “I am happy to be part of the Work-Study Program,” Grace says. “My family’s difficulties and needs motivate me. I cannot support my family and myself if I do not have any source of income during the pandemic. When I received my first stipend, I immediately helped my family. I am grateful for the support 10ThousandWindows has offered us.”

*pseudonym used