http://www.powerpoetry.org/poems/eighty-dollars That point in time when the world is new, fresh. Do you know innocence?

Rough hands, clinking coins, sold for eighty dollars. Do you know confusion? Enter a place unknown Shoved in a room thats cold Trembling, on a bed thats low Panic, misery, fear Do you know fear? Could you know fear when your life is a rhythm of texts and likes While mine is a jumble of pain and weary eyes? I am Bharti Tapas, age fourteen, a child prostitute in India But to the men who come in the night, I am but one of a million condemned faces Twenty men a day, freedom is a slowing fading echo. Do you know despair? Life. Breathing, blinking, my heart beats Thump Thump Thump But does surviving mean living? Death. I feared it in the way a shadow shrinks from light Now I realize its only an escape, an escape from the nightmares that have become my life You sit here listening to me ramble, as someone lies trembling, abused, a mere child Later tonight you may go home, tossing these words into the back of your closet with your dust covered photo-albums and moth-eaten blankets Every minute your clock ticks by a child is being taken from her home, forced to make money, money from customers who hurt and disgrace her, money for masters who beat and starve her, money that could be used to save her life

Ive heard of people, people like you bringing the impossibility of freedom Do you know hope? http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/client-services/survivor-stories/787-samanthaspeech-at-launch-of-global-human-trafficking-hotline-network Name: Samantha Story: I'm a trafficking survivor. I'm here to express my gratitude and appreciation to the human trafficking hotline for give me a response and for taking quick action to help me right away. They helped me to be able to face what I have been through and now leads me to see a bright tomorrow. From my first call, I am now in the process of healing after I suffered a horrific situation. It was very hard to come forward, to tell the story of what was happening But I knew, no one else will knew what I was going through except me. I remember the pamphlets that was given to me at the embassy that had the hotline phone number on it. I couldn't understand everything on the pamphlets but I knew the number was for help if I needed. When I called the hotline, and explained my situation they made me feel so comfortable, knowing that someone was willing to help right away. They provided me an interpreter, so I could freely express myself. I told them what happened to me, and they keep the confidentiality of my identity, until I said I was ready to get help. They helped me to stand against the people who gave me an extreme hardship here in the U.S. They gave me the courage to fight for my right as a human being, and let me realize that I am also important even though I am less fortunate. To the people who are still out there in the bad situation like I was, like you I was so afraid. But the moment I talked to them on the hotline, I felt relieved. Because I felt they were ready to listen and support me. To be honest, I am not confident to speaking English because English was my second language. But while I'm working with the speech, I realized that my listeners do not need a lesson in English grammar, my listeners need to know there is hope beyond their circumstances. To people out there, you're not alone on this journey. I hope and pray that you all will be able to face this challenge bravely with the help from the people on the human trafficking hotline.

When I was in the dark situation, they gave me hope. When I was so hopeless, they helped me to stand and speak up for the truth, and gave me comfort that things will get better. Through the hotline, I discovered that there are so many peoples around who that are willing to reach me with their arms open wide and continue to motivate and help me to improve. Thank you. http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/client-services/survivor-stories/464-keishadomestic-minor-sex-trafficking Name: Keisha Story: Keisha is a 16-year-old African American female from Florida. She was raised by an aunt until she was 10 and then placed into foster care. At 14, Keisha ran away to avoid sexual harassment from one of her foster family's relatives. During that time, she met "Mastur D", a 26-year-old man who offered to help her get back to her biological family. He said he could pay for some of the expenses to get them there, but that she needed to help financially by engaging in commercial sex with his friends. With no money or options Keisha accepted. He drove her to Florida but insisted she had not earned enough money to cover their hotel and gas costs. He assaulted her and told her she would never see her family if she did not engage in sex with other men. She felt she had no choice and continued to earn money. Keisha was arrested for solicitation and after serving time in a juvenile detention center was returned to her foster family and sexual harassment. Keisha ran away again a year later and called Mastur D to help her get to Florida. He agreed to help again; she was arrested again. While participating in an outreach group at a detention center, Keisha reached out to a Polaris Project social worker. Keisha now has an order of protection against Mastur D and was able to go to an out-of-state residential program for young girls who were victims of sex trafficking. Keisha is doing well and is almost finished with her GED. http://www.combattrafficking.eu/content/sex-trafficking-warwickshire Name: Daina & Roze Story: Daina & Roze

5. http://www.combattrafficking.eu/content/sex-trafficking-warwickshire Maria Name: Maria

Story: My name is Maria and I am 24. I have been raped, beaten, sold, cut with knives and threatened. I have scars and I am depressed. I come from a very poor family in the countryside of Eastern Europe. I did not regularly attend school. At home my father used to drink a lot. He would beat me and my family. When I was 13 my sister sold me, and I was taken to Italy. Once we arrived I was sold again, to a different man. He took me to a house and raped me. I was a virgin until then. It was then I realised what was happening. I started crying and the man started to beat me. Neighbours overheard me screaming and called the police, who took me to a nunnery for protection. After two years, I was returned home but four days later I was sold by my father to a different man. Again we went to Italy, where I was imprisoned for seven months. They controlled my eating and made me drink vinegar. I was then smuggled into the UK, where I stayed for five years. I worked every day, seeing 65 to 70 customers a day. I could earn up to 1,000 per day, but I had to pay 400 daily in 'rent' and 60 for a maid, as well as 20% of everything else I earned.

6. http://www.castla.org/kim Name: Kim Story: When she was in her late teens/early twenties, Kim was tricked into believing she was coming to the United States for legitimate work. When she arrived in New York City, however, she was forced into prostitution and bar work with many other women. Kim remained under threatened enslavement for more than a decade, and feared for her life if she tried escaping. Eventually, she decided that the risk of being caught and killed was worth the chance of breaking free, and she boarded a bus for California. CAST worked with Kim to meet her needs and focused on getting her on the road to a normal life. Her physical and mental health quickly improved while living at the CAST shelter so she was able to work with the Social Services team to get legal representation.

7. http://www.castla.org/maria Name: Maria Story: Maria was taken from Mexico at the age of 15, with promises of a job as a housekeeper in California. Instead, the woman who offered her the job sold her into slavery to a single, white older male for $200. For years she was raped, beaten, and forced to clean 18-20 hours a day while her boss reminded her of what would happen if she tried to escape. After five years, she was freed when her boss was killed by another man. That is,

she thought she was free, only to learn that she was to be held responsible for his death. Maria served more than 22 years in prison for a crime she did not commit. However, for the past five years, she has been a leader and trainer in CASTs leadership development program for survivors. She has served as a media spokesperson and conducted numerous interviews to increase awareness of human trafficking.

8. http://www.castla.org/lulu Name: Lulu Story: Lulu is in her thirties and was illegally brought to Los Angeles in 2008 from Asia by a labor trafficking operation. Lulu was an educated Asian woman who believed she was coming to America for a job. Through repeated physical and sexual abuse, traffickers broke her. When she was rescued, she was in a corner of the house that was being raided, holding on to a teddy bear. One month after coming to CAST, Lulu obtained a Work Authorization card, which allowed her to find a steady job with an employer that treated her well. Lulu saved money and was able to enroll part-time in a nursing program. When I was with my [previous] employer, I did the same thing everyday, I was stuck. I did not feel hopeful of what my future was going to be because I could not see what was going to happen tomorrow. Now, I feel hopeful. I can dream. I can see myself doing something with my life in two weeks, in two months. I am free now.

9. http://www.castla.org/esperanza Name: Esperanza Story:

10. http://www.castla.org/john Name: John Story: John was trafficked into the United States from Indonesia through promises of work at an assisted living community, which he hoped would help him fulfill his dream of becoming a nurse. Upon arriving in the U.S. however, John found himself and several other victims forced to work long hours, which went unnoticed as they were forced to live onsite. After months of fear of physical abuse and deportation, John was liberated by the FBI, which had been conducting an investigation.

John suffered from extreme anxiety as the traffickers continued to search for him, harassing his family, and going so far as to file false police reports of crimes he did not commit. The FBI worked with local law enforcement to address these false claims while CAST provided services to rehabilitate his mental health.