Jewelry Making Brings Hope and Jobs to Indian Survivors of Human Trafficking

Until recently, there was no safe place in Northern India for sex trafficking survivors to go to once they escaped their traffickers. Made By Survivors (MBS), an organization that fights slavery with employment and education, is working to change that.

MBS creates shelters that also serve as employment centers, designed to be self-sustaining and survivor-owned within three years. With help from professional jewelers, they are training their artisans to express their own creativity and life experiences through jewelry.

The newest shelter is in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal and will house 125 young survivors.  These women will learn skills of leadership and entrepreneurship, enabling them to receive jobs that will pull them out of poverty.

Thanks to 28 members of ENDCrowd and one generous matching sponsor, Kimbra Studios, MBS is now able to move forward with furnishing and equipping the jewelry studio at their new shelter. Now these women can now begin training, expressing themselves, earning money, and transforming their identities from victims, to survivors, to entrepreneurs.