India – Not For Sale: End Human Trafficking and Slavery

Due to extreme poverty, millions of people from Nepal, Bangladesh, and India are trafficked for forced labor or prostitution. Not For Sale is fighting to break this cycle and bring dignified work to thousands.

New Stories from India

Big Strides in Week One for NFS Trainees!

May 15, 2012

One week in and NFS sewing trainees are making incredible progress on the machines. Entering without any previous experience, the ladies, who come from vulnerable communities, have now begun putting together basic shirts in practise materials. Head instructor Aslam believes that it is the energy and enthusiasm with which his new trainees approach each task that is enabling them to pick up techniques so quickly: "they are delighted to be working and to be independent and, like the rest of our team, they take pride in their work. They are each wonderful, happy additions to our factory"

On Platform 16: continued.

May 11, 2012

At New Delhi Train Station, local abolitionist FJ uses experience and intuition to spot both victims and dalals ('agents'), then he assists local police to make arrests and directs victims to immediate support services. "But after support- then what? There is an absolute need for long term solutions here!" He explains that in Delhi, numerous NGOs will assist trafficked individuals with immediate care but survivors then have nowhere to go. "The only solution is work: work that keeps people safe and earning a fair income so they can support a family".

On Platform 16

May 10, 2012

"I'd estimate 30 cases per day", explains FJ over the noise of the bustling crowd in New Delhi Train Station. "After 26 years, I can identify and respond to around 3 of these cases". FJ is a local abolitionist, who works at the station to intercept instances of sex trafficking right at the point where victims are approached by traffickers. "I often await around platform 16, where trains arrive from many northern and rural areas, bringing young women, minors, with big dreams of finding work. What they find is a man ready to sell them into a life of prostitution on GB road".

We Value Women

May 8, 2012

Gender inequality is considered among the most significant indicators of human trafficking across the world. In recent years, Indian government initiatives have started the long road to addressing workplace inequality by encouraging employers to offer more job opportunities to women. In a male-dominated manufacturing industry, in a developing country, the employment of up to 100 women in the factory this year is very significant. CEO of the company thanked NFS for assisting the company to implement his own dream; "to show that woman can and will do this work just as well as men".

Cut the Ribbon! Celebrating Jobs for 100 Liberated Women!

May 4, 2012

Today was the official party to celebrate the launch of Not For Sale partner's new factory in Delhi. Current employees welcomed new staff, women from trafficked and exploited backgrounds into their new workplace, where they are to receive Not For Sale job training and dignified employment. Our partners in India have worked tirelessly the past weeks and months to get the factory open so today we celebrated together over video call with Chai and Sweets as is customary in India! बधाई हो - congratulations!

Into the New Factory!

May 2, 2012

Machines are installed, workers have arrived and production has started at our partner's new factory in Delhi! This is a huge step for NFS in India: our investment has enabled this local business to grow, increasing worker capacity to bring new jobs to at-risk populations. Our partners are producing beautiful products which you can purchase NOW through our store http://nfs.am/aEvHY Your purchase is your advocacy and enables us to build our model with more local businesses! Check back with us on Friday when we'll be celebrating the opening over video-chat with customary Indian chai and sweets!

Not For Sale’s Model in India

May 1, 2012

Check out why Not For Sale is working in India and how creating new jobs is stopping exploitation before it even occurs!

From Ashes to Beauty: Awareness to Solutions

April 27, 2012

Earlier this year, Ruth*, a survivor of trafficking participated in a fashion campaign to generate awareness about the plight of women trafficked and exploited for sex in India. Ruth, who was rescued from the Red Light District by a local shelter is now set to take up a new job through the Not For Sale training program in Delhi! Ruth's story has highlighted the issue of sex trafficking in India and now demonstrates how women like her can be empowered to begin new lives through dignified employment opportunities. Follow Ruth's campaign 'From Ashes to Beauty' with us over the coming months!

Innovative Approaches and Lessons from the Master: Part 2

April 24, 2012

New recruits to the 12-week sewing training program are instructed by the factory's finest Master Sewer (MS), who has been working with the team to compile a series of video lessons for trainees. The videos enable a 'seeing hearing doing' method of learning; the MS explains new techniques on camera for trainees to practise that week before a test. Formerly exploited women, who may not have received a formal education will be the beneficiaries of this fresh approach. As one member of the team noted; "they're learning from the most long-standing and talented sewer in the factory".

Innovative Approaches and Learning from the Master: Part 1

April 23, 2012

The UN General Assembly recently met to discuss the need to change protection and prevention services to empower survivors through access to 'effective remedies'. These, it was said, should engage the private sector to provide tailored responses and accessible work alternatives to those who may otherwise be exploited. NFS is working creatively in India to do just this! The pilot of this new approach is a 3 month integration and training program for formerly-exploited workers, implemented through holistic and creative methods and it has just started with 5 trainees. Read Part 2 for more!

Pre-school Prevents Exploitation for Generations to Come

April 16, 2012

Employees enrolling in Not For Sale training will soon have the opportunity to send their children to a superb new pre-school set up near their new workplace. Children who grow up in poverty are less likely to access quality education which is shown to be a significant incubator against trafficking. Among other skills, children at the pre-school will be taught English, a language which is highly valued in the Indian workforce, opening up more opportunities from a younger age and significantly lessening the risk of them encountering labour exploitation in their childhood and later in life.

Personalised Career Building For Survivors in India

April 12, 2012

The vast majority of trafficked victims in India are young women from poor rural communities. Nisha is a survivor of exploitation who has been living in a recovery centre in Delhi, and one of five young women who this week, will begin re-building their professional lives through a 12 week Not For Sale training program and a new job. Through interviews, Nisha's trainers found out that she is a former I.T student and a skilled typist, who sought a career in administration. Her personalised job training will build on her skills and prepare her for a role as a company secretary and book-keeper.

A Model for Change: See How Not For Sale Creates Enterprise to Scale Impact

April 10, 2012

In India, Not For Sale is holistically changing social enterprise and scaling social impact for vulnerable communities. By mobilising consumers, demand for ethically produced good grows and more companies become engaged to source through ethical supply chains. Increased demand for ethically produced goods means that Not For Sale is now expanding production and creating new employment opportunities for vulnerable women. You, as a consumer, play a vital role. By investing in Not For Sale's model, you enable it to grow and protect more communities from human trafficking and exploitation.

Not For Sale Utilizes Social Media to Empower Survivors in India

April 10, 2012

This week, Not For Sale is launching an on-the job training program for women coming out of exploitation in Delhi. As training commences, Not For Sale will be assisting managers who work with trainees to use social media effectively for sharing regular updates about how the lives of people on the ground are being changed on a daily basis through job training and new employment opportunities.

Not For Sale to Celebrate New Factory Opening!

April 5, 2012

Last year, Not For Sale met with an ethical manufacturing company in Delhi that produces beautiful products - some sold at the NFS store. Seeing potential for business growth & social investment in at-risk communities, NFS engaged in a partnership to scale their production and create more employment opportunities for women from exploited backgrounds. Next week, NFS will celebrate a major step in this collaboration with the opening of a new large production unit in Delhi & the commencement of a NFS funded job training program for 100 women from exploited backgrounds.

AllSaints visits NFS Partner in India

April 4, 2012

More exciting news from Not For Sale’s partners in India: AllSaints Spitalfield, a major global retailer, will soon collaborate to produce their NFS line in Delhi! In preparation for the brand new line, AllSaints visited the factory and is assisting Open Hand, as they prepare to begin producing the AllSaints/NFS clothing line. By engaging AllSaints to produce in India, Not For Sale helps guarantee work for dozens of otherwise vulnerable women, preventing human trafficking and labour exploitation before it even happens.

Training Program Provides Opportunities to Dream

April 3, 2012

NFS is developing a creative new training program for survivors of exploitation and those who are at-risk to human trafficking in India. This unique program includes training videos that target the different learning styles of women as well as a step-by-step strategy where each woman sets goals she would like to achieve throughout the program. According to one of the trainers, “The idea here is that we want to create an environment where the women have the ability to dream up a future, a life, and a career in the factory.”

New Factory in India is Almost Complete!

April 3, 2012

Wonderful news today from our partners in India; the new factory is almost complete! Electricians are busy installing the final touches across the 10,000sq ft building. The opening of the new factory marks the launch of NFS’ training program that will empower women in India to begin creating their own new future through job skill training. NFS staff, family, and supporters around the globe eagerly await next week’s celebration when the new factory opens.

Vehicles Purchased to Ensure the Safe Transportation of Workers

April 2, 2012

In India, it is estimated that up to 60% of trafficking survivors go on to be re-trafficked. Many women who enter the work-force from rehabilitation are not given the support they need to move into the work place, and so drop out rates can be high, leaving women vulnerable to their former traffickers. NFS's holistic and individualised training will provide ongoing support to promote long-term job retention and re-integration. The purchase of a new van will protect potentially vulnerable new workers by ensuring that they have safe transportation to work every day.

Hope Makes all the Difference in Survivors Lives

March 29, 2012

Open Hand India enthusiastically reports on the progress made by the women whom have been selected to participate in the NFS training program. According to an Open Hand India representative, the participants now have hope for a better future -and it makes all the difference. "You can see the difference between the ones who have no more hope, and the ones whose eyes have lit up with hope." The training program covers everything from basic hygiene and work place expectations to hands on skills-training in garment manufacturing and will begin with the opening of the new Open Hand India factory.

Job Skill Training an Essential Step

March 25, 2012

The first women to participate in the NFS Training Program at NFS manufacturing partner, Open Hand India, have been interviewed. The individualized training program is an essential step forward for young women who have been abused, are from broken homes, or live on the streets, and thus are vulnerable to exploitation. It is our hope that women who graduate from the program will be empowered in their new job skills. Throughout 2012 NFS aims to train 100 additional vulnerable men and women.

NFS models supply chain transparency in India

February 29, 2012

NFS is paving the way towards supply chain transparency in India through our partner, Open Hand India. Open Hand is a for-profit manufacturing company that displays how it is possible to prevent exploitation within the apparel industry. For more information on NFS’s global work to increase transparency within company supply chains, visit Free2work.org

Newer Story

In India, Not For Sale supports victims of trafficking and prevents further instances of exploitation by providing specialized job training and sustainable employment opportunities at local, ethical companies. Not For Sale drives business to these companies to increase production and generate funds to be re-invested in more at risk communities. Watch the video to see how it works.

How You Can Help in India

On the Ground in India

In 2011, Not For Sale partnered with Open Hand, a for-profit ethical manufacturing company in Delhi, to provide survivors of exploitation and at-risk populations with competitive and dignified employment and drive greater production in local business. Not For Sale has developed a job and life-skills training program for socially conscious manufacturers, piloted at Open Hand, which provides a passage of stability for new employees moving from recovery to re-integration.

Women from local shelters and vocational programs are recruited for the NFS Training Program and appointed a social worker. As part of their training, they are offered counseling, childcare, literacy programs, savings and financial training and further transferable job skills. With quality training, protection from traffickers and support during the transition to new employment, women are more likely to stay in their new jobs.

As they begin their new jobs, trainees are engaged to explore a range of opportunities within the company while being offered a realistic understanding of the work environment. In 2012, Not For Sale aims to train 100 women to be employed at Open Hand’s new factory, of whom 30-40% are survivors of exploitation or severely at risk. Not For Sale’s model allows companies like Open Hand to scale their production and manufacturing for global brands, creating a strong, sustainable and ever-growing economy around Open Hand and their employees.