Her Hope: How a mother escaped trafficking and reclaimed her life

This Spring, donations* to Justice & Care will be doubled through our match-funding campaign – Her Future, which shines a light on the disproportionate impact of modern slavery on women and girls. Donate between April 16 and May 31 to double your impact and support survivors on their journey to freedom, justice and empowerment. 

At just 24 years old, Alexandra** was raising four young children and caring for her sick mother in a small village in the North-East of Romania. With limited income and growing responsibilities, she was desperate to find a way to support her family. 

So, when a job opportunity in Italy appeared, a chance to work as a carer for an elderly woman, it felt like a lifeline. Lured by the false promise and desperate to provide for her four young children and ailing mother, she accepted the offer, unaware of the risks.   

But upon arrival, her life took a devastating turn, and what seemed like hope soon turned into horror. 

Within two weeks of arriving in Italy, Alexandra was coerced into sexual exploitation. Lured by lies and trapped in a foreign country, she quickly realised she had been deceived.  

Her traffickers took advantage of her poverty, her trust, and her lack of awareness about fraudulent job schemes – vulnerabilities shared by many of the women targeted by traffickers across Europe. 

After weeks of unimaginable trauma, a client who discovered what had happened gave Alexandra enough money to escape. She returned to Romania and bravely contacted the police – determined to take back control of her life. 

That’s when our team at Justice & Care Romania stepped in. From the moment we met Alexandra, one of our specialist Victim Navigators began providing tailored support – ensuring her and her family’s immediate safety, securing housing, and addressing urgent basic needs. But the help didn’t stop there. Our team walked alongside Alexandra as she slowly began to recover from her trauma and rebuild her confidence. 

Through counselling, ongoing emotional support, and having someone always in her corner, Alexandra found something she had almost lost entirely – a belief in herself. 

Today, Alexandra is learning to navigate Romania’s social support systems and is taking meaningful steps toward an independent life. She has reduced her financial dependence, is accessing local services, and is making plans for a future where she and her children are safe, stable, and hopeful. 

Her journey is far from over, but she now faces the future with hope and determination.   

Her story is a powerful reminder of the strength survivors carry – and the importance of standing beside them as they reclaim their lives. 

*up to £235,000

**name changed to protect identity

Our Victim Navigator Programme in Romania is made possible by the British Embassy in Bucharest through the Home Office.