Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, an estimated 86% of the country’s population is at risk for modern slavery and human trafficking.  Poverty, lack of access to education, restricted mobility, and violence have increased vulnerability to exploitation, trafficking, and abuse.  Young boys uniquely experience abuse when forcibly recruited as soldiers, asked to beg on the streets, or coerced to work in brick kilns.  Untreated trauma in victims of exploitation and abuse leads not only to physical and mental health issues, but also to re-exploitation. 

ODW is partnering with Hagar USA to provide support services for boys at the Boys Recovery Shelter in Kabul: the only recovery shelter for boys who have been trafficked in Afghanistan. The goal of the shelter is to address the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of boys who are survivors or are at risk of trafficking. At the shelter, boys receive comprehensive services, such as case management, vocational training, art therapy, and medical care. Through our partnership, an estimated 36 shelter residents will receive initial medical treatment, on-going healthcare services, and trauma-informed counseling services.  An additional 54 boys will continue to receive counseling services after reintegration into their families and communities.