Supporting mothers and children through education, economic empowerment, and case-managed care.
East Java, Indonesia
Thousands of sarcophagi span more than seventeen acres, and among the graves, you will find some of the most beautiful and precious women and children in the world.
Many are victims of abuse, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. Some are disabled, orphaned, ill, or widowed, and all of their situations are informed by severe poverty. Women here turn to what they see as their only choice, selling themselves for sex. As the daylight fades, they tuck their children into bed and line the rows of sarcophagi offering themselves for as little as 7,000 Indonesian rupiah—approximately $0.75 USD.
The children growing up in this community face incredible vulnerability factors that are nearly impossible to overcome on their own. Deceived by the promise of money and protection, young boys are lured into drug dealing, and young girls are often preyed upon by traffickers within the region.