Never Again

She’s in her early 20, single with a boy aged 8. Been a human trafficking victim for 7 months. Molested. Raped. Managed to be saved. Now she’s HIV positive.

Bravely she told her story in a 30 minutes documenter film called “Never Again”. Trough this film she wants to say two important things to the world. That human trafficking exists in the most dangerous friendly way through people you know close, like your neighbor, or even relatives. That seeking better opportunity by working abroad can be dangerous if not being done in a proper way.

She was recruited by her auntie to be placed in a restaurant in Malaysia. Instead of working in a restaurant she was sold and having to work as prostitute. After 7 months of struggling she managed to be saved and came back to her village. Through some test she was found to be HIV positive. Now she is working as HIV activist. This young woman bravely turned herself from victim to someone who help other victim. A hero in my opinion.

When asked what made her decided to make this film, as this will reveal her identity of having been a victim of human trafficking and also the fact about she having HIV positive, she answered “What happened to me has already happened. If there is something I can do to avoid this to happen again (to other girls), then I will do it “. When another question asked about whether or not she would be afraid of people knowing what she has been through and her recent condition, her answer was “I don’t think I should be afraid. I’m not doing anything wrong”.

There were many questions on my head, like how she managed to get on her feet and keep on living, how her society see her now, what is her plan for her future and her son’s , will she stay single, will she be able to let a man be part of her life, but I couldn’t even raised my hand as I was too busy wiping my tears. What I saw there was a young fragile yet a very brave woman. She still cried and choked answering questions, and every time we clapped for her braveness she smiled and cried at the same time. She is my hero for reminding me that life goes on no matter what. It does not matter what has happened in the past, what mistake we made, how screw our life was. The future is there, wide open to be embraced.