Empowerment Square began after I couldn’t locate the programs I wished I had when I was just starting out on my empowerment path.
Women and girls who have been rescued from human trafficking rings have limited options when it comes to employment. They must begin with basic education and training skills. Once these are mastered, further pieces of training and resources are provided for them to start their own small businesses. With a stable income, they will never return to the life of a slave again.
I didn’t know the language, I didn’t comprehend the culture, and I regularly missed the social cues of others around me. To support me and my child, I had to teach myself website development. For years, I battled with finding independent housing.
Along the way, I encountered other single moms as well as immigrants (like me) who were facing similar, if not worse, hardships. Initially, I was merely an advocate for programs that would assist survivors like myself to get back on their feet, but as time passed, I understood that in order to make my vision a reality, I needed to do more than just advocate.
I needed to try to empower women, and immigrants, to gain financial stability, job skills, confidence, and be safe. Part of that is starting on the path to being a business owner. As many immigrants do in fact own their own business. Find a directory of businesses owned by immigrants.
I need to start an organization that will provide these holistic services to my fellow survivors. Empowerment Squared is just that. It sprang from my personal path of trials and tribulations.
Ansa’s story
The most common reason for human trafficking among young girls and women is financial insecurity. We shatter the systematic loop of slavery and human trafficking by offering services such as language learning and subsequently employment and skill training. And we provide these vulnerable women and girls the tools they need to become financially independent and never return to this vicious cycle of slavery.
We are able to undertake this job thanks to the generosity of our incredible network of volunteers and financial sponsors.
We are adamant that we must all empower each other! And I hope you will choose to do your part in that today.