In a world where gender-based violence continues to cast a long shadow over impoverished nations, Mpolokeng’s story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Mpolokeng went from being a survivor of assault to a determined college student, and her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, support, and restoration.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is found around the world, but it is particularly prevalent in Lesotho. In 2021, 47% of the women murdered in Lesotho were
Picture this: your parents separate, and you’re forced to leave school to support your mother and siblings. You shift from child to adult in a matter of days, and your sole focus becomes supporting your family.
Lesotho is no stranger to health crises. One of the main reasons this area remains in poverty is because of the aftermath of the HIV epidemic. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide in 2020…
Beautiful Dream Society’s primary focus is preventing human trafficking and rehabilitating its victims. There is a secondary mission that we feel strongly about, though—helping women recover from domestic violence.
“I never thought I would be able to sit and laugh with people without doubting my safety around them,” said Mosa, a human trafficking survivor.
“I reported him to the police, but they released him. When he came home, he would beat me and threaten to stab me to death. I can’t tell the police about the rape; he will kill me.”
The idea and practice of child marriage are rooted in gender inequality, believing that girls and women are inferior to boys and men. It is also compounded by poverty, lack of education, harmful social norms and practices, and more.
According to UN Women (2019), wherever there is poverty, conflict, and gender inequality, women’s and girls’ lives are at risk for exploitation.
“I have never been able to read a Bible for myself before,” Thuto told one of the house mothers. Thuto is a teenage girl who was referred to the Beautiful Dream Society shelter after surviving human trafficking. As a result of the trauma she experienced, she was understandably often moody, withdrawn, anxious, and hopeless about her future. These are common and expected feelings among human trafficking victims.
