Home, Free and Everlasting
Haza's* story of finding hope, freedom, and home with EverFree Uganda.
*pseudonym to preserve survivor privacy
Haza was 14 years old and in her last year of primary school. It was almost time for exit examinations, but her parents wouldn't let her take them.
A 24-year-old man came to their home one day. He was promised Haza's hand in marriage.
"I was in primary seven when a 24-year-old man came to our home and requested my father to give me a hand in marriage. I didn’t know my worth, my values and the world outside our home," Haza recalls.
Haza's father said that her husband would educate her, that he would pay for her further schooling, that she would be a happily married woman living a comfortable life. The promise of an education and being cared for was a rare dream for many girls.
But as she began married life, Haza experienced nothing of the sort.
"When I reached my husband’s home, the story changed," she recalls. "I was confined to the house; he used to provide food, and other basic needs but he took away all my freedom."
And still the story worsens. "He hid his true identity from me," Haza continues. "He would go away for some good time and come back... I didn’t know that he was a terrorist."
As Haza realized that her husband was part of a terrorist rebel group, she learned that her father had been part of the group as well. The whole purpose of her marriage wasn't for her well-being— it was to add to their ranks.
Haza's father began the process of indoctrinating her. He instructed her to harden her heart and distrust everyone but him. He forced her to swear fealty through a ritual covenant.
Soon, the rebel forces saw her as one of their own.
For five years, Haza was exploited by the terrorist rebel group. She lived in distrust of everyone but her father and husband.
Earlier this year, Ugandan military intelligence found Haza. They referred her to EverFree Uganda for urgent support.
Haza was in immediate need of safety, medical care, food, and counseling. The abuse left her with hallucinations and painful ulcers. Deeply traumatized by the terror she experienced, Haza refused to eat or sleep and distrusted everyone around her.
"With all the disappointments from different people," Haza says, "I lost trust in every one because even my own people who I trusted misled me."
EverFree staff took Haza to a hospital for urgent medical care. At EverFree's safe home, she started to receive restorative counseling. There she was surrounded by a community of other girls like her. At night she slept safely in her own bed, free from threats of harm and control. She had hot meals and cool water to nourish and refresh her.
For the first time, Haza was home.
Slowly, she began to open up to her counselor.
She began to tell her story.
"For the first time, Haza was home."
Now, Haza's story continues as a student at EverFree's Freedom First institute, which empowers survivors of human trafficking with skills and career training in a safe and nurturing space.
"I was empowered with economic skills, soft skills, and trained in catering services and I have developed meaningful values for myself," Haza says.
Looking to start her own business someday, Haza dreams of helping keep her community safe so that other girls like her will be free from trafficking and exploitation.
“If God still blesses me with life, I will sensitize people in my community and I will make sure that I spread information about human trafficking and the different forms of trafficking so that no child is trafficked again."
"You have opened my eyes to the world," she says of EverFree.
"I feel EverFree is a spring of water sprinkling on all my plants. I do not have the best words to describe the everlasting home that EverFree has proved to be for me."
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