Mabel & Peace

 
While still grieving for their father, Mabel and Peace were exposed to the perils of working on Lake Volta, Ghana. They worked tirelessly to impress their master and madam in order to avoid physical punishment and abuse. The young girls said they worked until 1:00 am to prepare the fish that was caught that day for sale in the market. They descaled and smoked the fish, exposing their lungs to harmful fumes. Every morning, Peace and Mabel woke up early to do all the house chores for the madam. They were always hungry since they were only given one small meal a day. The sisters said they were punished for doing anything that did not meet the expectations of their master or madam. After losing their father, they began to lose hope that they would ever see their mother or siblings again or their friends at school. 
 

During a routine monitoring visit to the communities along the lake, Eric Peasah (Executive Director, RTBF/Africa) met Mabel and Peace's mother in her village of Gasoekope, along the Kpando side of the lake. After hearing her story, RTBF accompanied her to the village where the girls were taken to work. Mabel and Peace were rescued that same day.

RTBF has helped the girls' family relocate to a community near Accra, closer to their hometown. Their mother was granted a micro loan to help her start a business to enable her to support her family. This illustrates the successful reintegration process where RTBF continues to monitor the rescued children to ensure they are safe and attending school, while providing assistance, when needed, to ensure the family foundation is stable and on a path to financial independence. We are confident that Mabel will reach her goal of becoming a teacher and Peace will someday achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. 

Eric spoke to students from a Long Island school about human trafficking, modern day slavery, and the enslavement of children on Lake Volta, Ghana. If you would like RTBF to give a complimentary presentation to your school, organization or group, please contact Lori Dillon or Eric Peasah.

Right To Be Free is able to rescue marginalized children in the remote villages of Lake Volta, where they toil as enslaved laborers. These trafficked children are the hardest to reach and therefore, the most defenseless. As a small grass roots organization, our knowledge of the needs and conditions in the local communities enable us to effectively combat human trafficking while creating opportunities for rescued children and their families. With your continued support, we can ensure that children like Mabel and Peace grow up to become healthy, productive citizens of our global society. Thank you for your belief in our work and in the potential of the children we serve. Please help spread awareness about Right To Be Free by sharing this newsletter.