Due to the sudden death of her husband Faith found herself looking for work to support her four young children. After months of searching she was unable to procure work, she lost her home  and her children needed food.

When she was offered short term work as a domestic assistant in the UK with travel expenses paid in advance, this was something she could not refuse. Heartbroken to leave her young family in Africa she consoled herself with the thought she would see them again in six short months. In the meantime she would send money back home to feed, clothe and educate them.

Arriving in the UK she was taken to a house where her passport and her personal belongings were taken from her. She was made to work long hours of washing clothes by hand, cleaning the house, cooking, looking after the children and gardening. She received no pay, was unable to leave the house unaccompanied, made to sleep on the floor of the children’s bedroom, all contact with her family in Africa was refused and Faith was beaten and starved if she did not comply to the rules. The months turned into years of domestic servitude and Faith was stripped of her identity, eventually she managed to escape and was helped by a passer-by  and found refuge in a safehouse.

On arrival at the safehouse Faith was provided with one of our Welcome baskets filled with African toiletries and one of our welcome notes in her native tongue. We visited her regularly and were able to provide her with clothing and spent time talking with her. One of her strongest desires was to reconnect with her children and explain to them what had happened to her, this is something she has managed to do and they are eager to meet their Mother again.