Today estimates determine that over 40 million people live in modern-day slavery, making it more rampant than it has ever been in human history.[1] 23% of global human trafficking takes place in Africa. About 40% are trafficked for forced labor. The victims work in agriculture, fishing, and mining laboring for long hours in dangerous conditions for little pay. Half of the trafficked victims in Africa are in forced marriages which often result in sexual and physical abuse. Though governments are trying to respond with new laws, no African country meets the minimum standards for elimination of human trafficking. There are over 400,000 victims of sexual exploitation in Africa; over 99% are women and girls. Needless to say, human trafficking in Africa is a serious problem.
One courageous woman who is trying to do her part in her own community to rescue some girls at risk is Doreen Nambuya.
Life was not always easy for Doreen Nambuya who grew up in Uganda in poverty but went on to found an organization to help girls facing trafficking and abuse. Doreen’s story is one of faith, hope, and love.
Doreen was born into a well-to-do family but when her father died everything changed. At age 6 she and five siblings and her mother had to move into a slum. They lived in a one room home with a dirt floor and no electricity. Her mother often when without anything in order to feed the children. Doreen found a job breaking rocks and selling them to builders to help support the family.
She had no education for two years. Then a family from Compassion International sponsored her.[2] “I was dancing at home because hope had started rebuilding again,” Doreen says. “Having this opportunity to know that you’re going to go back to school and pursue your dream was above the roof.”
The sponsoring family helped her to get through school. She had a new dress and shoes every year for which she was very grateful. Christmas was always very special for Doreen. Even when she had very little she always tried to give her mother something at Christmas – a kettle, a knife, a plate.
As she grew older she wanted to give back. A teacher advised her to become a social worker so when she went to Uganda Christian University she took classes in social work. Because she had to work many jobs on the side to earn her tuition, it took Doreen seven years to complete her degree. (It usually took three.) During the long struggle she went away from God for a while. She soon realized that life without God was even harder and so she recommitted her life.
Things began to move in ways that she did not expect. A supervisor encouraged her to finish her exams and pay the balance after. She succeeded and gave thanks to God.
With her degree completed, Doreen began to work for an organization that served trafficked girls. She felt the Lord calling her to start her own organization. It took her three years to gain the confidence and the opportunities she needed.
Doreen searched for a house where she could help the girls. She did not have the rent. She prayed and she also shared her needs with friends. One day the father of a friend sent her an email telling her, ‘Me and my wife have sent you $3,000 for rent.’ It was the best gift ever.
The Holy Spirit just reminded me: Never doubt.
By March of 2021, her organization, Lupins Africa, was able to open its doors to help girls who were trafficked. Doreen helps girls who are survivors and also girls who are at high risk in their situations of being abused. Doreen and her five staff members have rescued 71 girls. More girls are brought to her attention weekly.
When the girls come to the home they are evaluated for a specialized, individual rehabilitation program. While they are progressing in their program, Doreen tries to find a safe place for them to live. Usually, after finding someone willing to take the girl she interviews the potential caregiver and local officials and police. Then the child can visit the caregiver for an overnight visit. If everyone is happy, the girl can go and live there. Doreen does follow-up visits, sometimes unannounced. She wants the girls to feel that they are loved and safe.
80-90% of the girls are not in school when they come. Doreen sees to it that they learn how to read and write. A number of the girls go to a school to learn hairdressing or cosmetology. They can support themselves or help their families and begin a new life of freedom and happiness.
This picture is from the article about Doreen written by Jordan Cone:[3]
Doreen also visits local schools and shows them films about what abuse looks like. She gives them resources for help. She also desires to show films about women who successfully overcame great suffering and difficulties.
Doreen is thankful to God for her organization. I think that Doreen is a wonderful example of what one woman, responding to God’s call on her life can do to make a difference for hundreds, and perhaps in the future thousands of lives. She is a great inspiration for anyone who might think that they are too small or too insignificant to serve in the Kingdom of God. If only everybody who had a dream would act on it, the world would be a better place.
Recently, Lupins Africa became a registered NGO in the United States, so Americans can make tax-deductible donations.[4] I encourage you to go to Doreen’s website and listen to her message of hope and love for trafficked girls:
https://lupinsafrica.org/a-message-from-doreen-nambuya/
[1] Statistics from The Borgen Project. Megan McKeough. “10 facts About Human Trafficking in Africa”, Fegruary 22, 2020. https://borgenproject.org/human-trafficking-in-africa/
[2] If you would like to make a difference in a child’s life the way the sponsoring family did for Doreen, I highly recommend this organization. Between my husband, my daughter, and I we sponsor 4 children, a clinic for pregnant women and a fund for special needs. Compassion International makes it straightforward and simple for you to get involved in your child’s life with aid, gifts, and letters. Go to: https://www.compassion.com
[3] You can find this article here: https://www.compassion.com/stories/this-amazing-woman-rescued-girls-from-sex-abuse.htm?referer=658870&j=877225&sfmc_sub=150080122&l=2416_HTML&u=19472911&mid=524004730&jb=307&alias=content_1a_btn&sub_key=0033b00002g5fTjAAI&te_em=0f5585bdaa13d1c4fe1183aabde502f443c5ad9771dfcd3e10a64844b4568529&utm_source=mc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Compassion_Connection_FY23_Mar29_240829
[4] You can go directly here to donate: https://lupinsafrica.org
