I received this letter from Mosaic Family Services and felt it worth sharing. They share some of their 2010 success stories in the battle against human trafficking here in Dallas. One of these is about a young girl trafficked into the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. As I reflect upon the Christmas season, this letter helped me to put in perspective my life as I thought of my blessings, the sometimes sickening hardships of this world and the hope we can offer others through our time, service and dedication.
With your help, this last fiscal year Mosaic Family Services:
- Served over 100 Victims of Human Trafficking.
- Provided over 400 immigrant and refugee victims of domestic violence with comprehensive services including counseling and legal representation.
- Provided 209 women and children fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking with safe housing.
- Helped 725 newly arrived refugees improve the health of their families and access medical care.
- Educated 15,000 individuals in North Texas about domestic violence, human trafficking, and the services we offer.
Greetings!
Are safety and freedom are your wish list this year?
Linda wished for freedom for many years before Mosaic helped her find it. As a young girl, she was brought from her home in Africa to the United States by her neighbors' relatives. She was told that upon arrival she would help care for her neighbor's family and receive an education. Instead, Linda was treated as a slave, forced to work as a nanny and a housekeeper for the family while her passport was withheld, ensuring that she could not leave the restraints of her employment. She was not paid for her work, and the promise of an education was never kept. After five years in domestic servitude, she ran away.
After Linda escaped from her traffickers, a community member referred her to Mosaic Family Services. She was assigned a case manager, who immediately contacted federal law enforcement to report the crime. In spite of escaping, Linda continued to receive threats from her traffickers through phone contact. To ensure her safety, Linda was moved to Mosaic House, our emergency shelter for immigrant women who have been victims of domestic violence or human trafficking. Meanwhile, her case manager and a Mosaic attorney continued to meet with law enforcement, and Linda was identified as a victim of trafficking. The next month, she began to receive the benefits that are available for victims of trafficking, such as Food Stamps, Medicaid, and cash assistance. While her attorney prepared papers to help her file for a T-Visa, Linda met with a counselor to talk through her experiences and began a job training program. Today, she is excited about her life. She has a job she enjoys and plans to attend college to become a member of the medical profession.
Sadly, Linda's case is not unique. 15,000-17,000 victims are brought into the United States every year to be exploited and enslaved through domestic servitude, prostitution, and in the agricultural, garment, and construction industries.
25% of all human trafficking victims in the nation were exploited in Texas.
Please consider making a year-end donation today. With your support, Mosaic Family Services can combat human trafficking and continue to provide comprehensive services to other immigrants and refugees in crisis.
Walter Nguyen, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Mosaic Family Services
What an incredible story. Thank you so much for sharing about this.
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