Every so often, we witness something that reminds us just how closely God walks with this mission—something that stops us in our tracks and makes us say, “Only God could have done that.” For us at Beautiful Dream Society, this is one of those moments.
A few months ago, we received shocking news: our U.S. government-funded anti-trafficking grant—the backbone of two of our most important programs in Lesotho—had been suspended. Not because of anything we had done but as part of a massive international audit pause affecting thousands of organizations. Globally, 5,800 projects were frozen. We were devastated, and yet, we prayed. We believed. And we asked you—our community—to stand in the gap with us.
You did. And God showed up.
Today, we’re overjoyed to share that our grant has been officially reinstated.
One of only 500 in the world
Let’s put this in perspective. Of the 5,800 programs suspended around the world, only 500 have been reinstated—less than 9%. Within the International Organization for Migration (IOM)—the United Nations agency overseeing our grant—only three anti-trafficking programs worldwide were brought back.
BDS was one of them.
In a sea of global initiatives, our little country of Lesotho, often overlooked on maps and in headlines, was chosen. Not only was our program reinstated, but the IOM Lesotho office—facing the prospect of full closure—was spared as a result. The office had only two major projects, and only BDS’s survived. Because of that, IOM Lesotho didn’t have to shut its doors, and its remaining staff has been able to keep their jobs.
We’re not just talking about a grant. We’re talking about livelihoods, stability, and a powerful affirmation of the importance of this work.
Keeping the shelter open—even in uncertainty
While the grant suspension meant we had to make the difficult decision to temporarily pause our Transit Monitoring Program, we are proud to say that we never closed the Crisis Care Shelter. In fact, March brought one of our highest occupancy rates ever—10 women and girls, each with their own heartbreaking story, found refuge with us.
Many arrived severely malnourished, deeply traumatized, and in urgent need of care. Thanks to your support, they received it. Because you gave, we had the resources to keep our shelter open and fully staffed. We had food on the table, medicine in the cabinet, and counselors ready to walk alongside survivors every day.
Your support quite literally saved lives.
God’s hand in every detail
We prayed specifically for favor and saw it unfold step by step.
- Out of 5,800 global suspensions, our project was one of the 500 reinstated.
- Out of all IOM anti-trafficking projects worldwide, only three were brought back—BDS was one of them.
- The IOM Lesotho office’s ability to operate and retain staff now depends on our partnership—making this more than a win for BDS, but for a whole team of advocates working to stop trafficking in southern Africa.
We couldn’t make this happen on our own. The truth is, your faithfulness carried us. Your donations filled the financial gap. Your prayers built a wall of protection and provision around this mission. Your encouragement kept our team steady when things felt uncertain.
This victory belongs to all of us.
What’s next: Hope and momentum
With the grant reinstated, we’re working swiftly to restart the Transit Monitoring Project, rehire suspended staff, and return to the borders—where prevention starts. Meanwhile, we’re committed to strengthening the Crisis Care Shelter and preparing for continued growth as we serve more survivors and vulnerable children.
As we step into this next chapter, we do so with joy—and a renewed sense of purpose.
But we also know that the road ahead will still have challenges. While this grant fills a major gap, we continue to rely on private donors for the day-to-day work that falls outside of government funding. If this story has stirred your heart, we invite you to help us advance the momentum.
From the bottom of our hearts: thank you. You stood in the gap when it mattered most, and this incredible answer to prayer is shared with every single one of you.
We’ve seen God move, we’ve seen what community can do, and we know the best is still ahead.