Orphan Relief and Rescue is an international humanitarian organization that fights for justice in populations of children that no one else is serving by combatting child trafficking, abuse, and needless suffering. According to UNICEF, there are over 200,000 children trafficked annually in West Africa. We operate the Anti-Trafficking Initiative in a province of Benin that is one of the primary hubs for the trafficking of children in all of Africa.

When Orphan Relief and Rescue set out to decipher the root causes of trafficking in Benin, what we found was a persistent problem in the perception of the value of a child’s life, which was then reinforced and perpetuated by a system of poverty, lack of opportunity, and education. 

We have developed an approach that seeks to comprehensively address the many aspects driving child exploitation and trafficking. The Anti Trafficking Initiative focuses in four key areas: Intervention, Rescue, Restoration, and Empowerment.

One element of our rescue project is operating a Safe Home for former victims of child trafficking.

The girls in this particular home are between the ages of 14 and 16; all had been forced to work in Nigeria or Cotonou against their will and for no pay. After being rescued, they shared stories of abuse and mistreatment, and their desire for an opportunity to be free and live in safety.

All of these girls had no other place to go, with parents either deceased, or eager to sell them back into slavery. Many of them had never attended school and therefore need a tutor to help them get to a place where they can go to school and learn with their peers. Some of the older girls who have already passed the age window for school are placed in an apprenticeship program where they can develop skills that will provide a future job.

The Safe Home Project was established in February of 2016 to provide:

• Housing
• Food
• Safety
• Care
• Education, both a tutor and school related fees, or apprenticeship

This Safe Home is not only the final option for many children, it also provides them with safety, a chance to heal, and hope for the future. Your donation will directly provide the funds for one year's operating budget of the Safe Home, and help us restore the lives of these girls.