The Netherlands Archives

Meet Faida: Not For Sale Netherlands

Mar 5, 2018 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, The Netherlands

“I give you a 100% guarantee that through Not For Sale you will become happy again,” pronounces Faida, one of our thriving survivors at Not For Sale Netherlands. Showcasing immense strength and courage, she has repeatedly proven her ability to battle the odds and persevere despite numerous roadblocks along her path to rehabilitation.

Not For Sale met Faida after her escape from an exploitative domestic trafficking situation. She had traveled to the Netherlands to work as a housekeeper for distant relatives and soon realized the job was not as advertised. Her traffickers forced her to work long hours for no pay, with physical and emotional abuse, and little food. In order to coerce her to remain in her position, they threatened to slander Faida’s name back in her conservative home country.

Despite these coercive measures, Faida made the difficult decision to run away. Her traffickers made good on their threats, and it became impossible for Faida to return home with her damaged reputation. She turned to Not For Sale for help.

Not For Sale Netherlands gave Faida the tools she needed to build her confidence and gain skills to support herself financially. After advancing through culinary training, she has now secured two different jobs as a blossoming chef. She has also worked hard to learn both English and Dutch, making her feel more at home in a country where she once felt like an outsider. Even with all her progress, she still struggles for her voice to be heard as someone affected by domestic work trafficking – an often overlooked human rights issue. Her legal case was thrown out by the court because they regarded it only as a case of domestic violence, not human trafficking. However, Not For Sale has remained firm in its support for Faida and continues to provide resources for her recovery.

Faida will not let the naysayers slow her down. She is determined to make a life for herself in the Netherlands and show the world her capacity to contribute to society as an empowered survivor. #SheInspiresMe

The Court Rejected Her, So Faida Fought for Herself

Oct 16, 2016 | Blog, News From the Frontlines, The Netherlands

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She had bruises. She had scars. And she had stories of abuse. But she didn’t have enough evidence of trafficking, according to the Netherlands courts.

The courts threw out her case.

Faida had escaped slavery in Amsterdam. And she needed help.

As with many of the women trafficked into the Netherlands, Faida came from Eastern Europe. She met a man that romanticized the excitement of Amsterdam. He tempted her with daydreams of city living and wealth. He even set up a job for her.

The man promised Faida would clean the house of her distant family members in Amsterdam. She would receive proper wages — much more than in her home country — housing, and food. She was excited to go.

Her arrival revealed something much different. There would be no payment. No food. She could not even leave the house.

Her captors slandered her reputation quickly, leaving her unable to return home. The threat of violence was constant. She was abused often.

Eventually she escaped.

Faida waited in a safe house for her court date to convict the people who enslaved her. However, during the trial she realized there is hardly a system in place to help women like her.

She was given no assistance by the government and her captors were not punished.

Fadia became homeless and helpless. She recalls moments when she did not recognize herself, as the days of home seemed a lifetime ago.

RECLAIMING HER DIGNITY

Then Fadia met a woman who did not see her as a failed court case, but as another woman in need of help. The woman connected her to Not For Sale.

We enrolled Faida in culinary school at our Dignita restaurant in Amsterdam. She had a language barrier and no work experience, but was determined to make a life for herself.

Faida began to study English and Dutch. Language barriers fell. She built relationships with the other women in school through jokes repeated in three languages.

Through completing culinary school she was given a sense of completion and worth again. But she did not stop there.

Her newfound culinary skills have won her an assistant chef position in two establishments. With this coveted certification and a growing resume, Faida can provide for herself wherever her future takes her. It is her reason to persevere after having life stolen from her.

“I give you a 100 percent guarantee that through Not For Sale you will become happy again,” says Faida smiling.

After being rejected by the state, many trafficked men and women re-enter the sex trade or other forms of exploitation out of necessity. We work to give them alternate options and skills needed to succeed in a world free from slavery.