Our Founder's Human Trafficking Experience
Pastor Tee shares her experience of find herself in a human trafficking situation on the day she landed in the USA on Sept 12, 1997. Her passport was confiscated by her "boss" the same day she arrived, right there at BWI in Maryland. They told her they needed the passport so they can get her work permit stamped in it. Little did she know that it was all a lie, US immigration never takes anyone's original document, in fact they strongly discourage you sending any original documents to their offices.
Sadly Most Suffer in Silence
Human trafficking is often characterized by elements of exploitation, control, deception, and abuse of power. Victims of human trafficking may experience physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual harm, as well as violations of their basic human rights and dignity.
Efforts to combat human trafficking involve prevention, protection of victims, prosecution of traffickers, and partnerships between governments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and communities. Raising awareness, advocating for stronger laws, and supporting victims are key components of the global anti-trafficking movement.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
"My Personal Story", Teresa Dangwa, DWA Founder
September 12, 1997
My Property
This day represents the day I first set foot in USA and the day my passport was taken away from me by the very people who had "hired" me in Zimbabwe a couple of months prior.
We have heard the adage, "Hindsight is 20/20". I didn't know at the time that in the US, not even the government takes your passport, in fact the strongly discourage you sending your passport to the immigration offices as all costs, "only copies" they insist.
Work Permit
My passport was taken away from me at Baltimore Washington International upon my arrival under the guise that they wanted to get my work permit stamped in it.
My Freedom
It was to be almost 2.5 years later that I was to reunite with my passport. I found it by divine intervention and that was the last day I worked for my "handlers".
Human trafficking is often characterized by elements of exploitation, control, deception, and abuse of power. Victims of human trafficking may experience physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual harm, as well as violations of their basic human rights and dignity.
Teresa's & Her "Handler"
"Behind that radiant smile, was a lot of pain as I was being exploited by this woman and her husband, famous and politically connected. I met both of them in Zimbabwe, so in the US at the time, they were the only people I knew. They did not allow me to have friends, not even my work colleagues nor was I allowed to go to church because, "We brought here to work", they would say.
Before meeting these people, I thought I knew God, only to find, I got to know Jesus pretty intimately during this seaason in my life."
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