Showing Compassion to Survivors
Haley Clark | World Hope International
The Government of Sierra Leone has made some progress over the last decade in addressing Trafficking in Persons (TIP). World Hope International has been a key player in helping trafficking victims in Sierra Leone since 2004. It operates a TIP Recovery Centre to provide survivors with a safe place to receive essential services, both justice and social welfare related. The Recovery Centre has now been operational for a decade, and has served thousands of survivors of TIP and gender-based violence, and returning migrants. We provide services to those admitted to the Centre, those placed with a partner shelter, and those served within their communities.
The Recovery Centre is the only shelter in Sierra Leone where trafficking and gender-based violence survivors receive specialized, confidential, and holistic care. These survivors are highly traumatized and need a considerable amount of trauma-informed care to heal. Partners, including government and law enforcement staff, community and church members, and non-governmental organizational (NGO) staff from all over the country, refer cases to the Recovery Centre.
Our expert local teams work tirelessly to show affection, the love of Jesus, and to provide education and training, ultimately promising care, respect, and empowerment for the individuals and communities with whom we work.
Miriam and Fanta are counselors who have been serving the survivors at the Recovery Center for more than ten years. They journey with survivors toward restoration and hope. Their work and ministry relate to the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 told by Jesus, in which the traveler was beaten and left to die alongside the road. Many avoided the man, but the Samaritan helped the injured man by showing mercy and compassion. Miriam expressed, “For me, this is how I want to show love. Compassion means to love unconditionally, care for, and show kindness to others. Through the love of God, I show kindness and bring hope to survivors.” She shared an example of a survivor, Mary, who was very young. She did not speak due to the trauma inflicted upon her by her abuser. There was little that Miriam could do but to sit and be present with her. After a few weeks, Mary began to talk and play as Miriam cared for her, provided appropriate therapy, and brought her hope. Miriam feels fulfilled as she sees the transformation of survivors, from being despondent to growing and aspiring.
Fanta also shared that compassion for her means showing kindness, care, and love. She recognizes some of her own painful experiences in the stories of survivors. She explained, “Some people don’t want you to help them, but I make sure that survivors have people around them to feel safe. I share my past and my life to show them that they are not going through this by themselves. There are others that have gone through this and have come out strong.” She puts herself in their situation and makes sure that the survivors are listened to and cared for properly. Fanta concluded, “Because of God, I am here today. Because God has shown me compassion, I can show compassion.”
Miriam and Fanta pray and remember that God is full of compassion. They want to encourage others to always ask the question, “How can I make this world a better place?”
World Hope International (WHI) is a Christian relief and development organization working with vulnerable and exploited communities to alleviate poverty, suffering, and injustice.
