From Trauma to Triumph: The Role of Safe Spaces of India in Survivor Recovery

Eshita Verma
Sep 9, 2025
4 min read

What does hope look like when everything is taken from you?

girls being recused by police with intervention of Impact and dialogue foundation

For many girls rescued from trafficking, “freedom” isn’t the end of their struggles. In fact, it’s the beginning of a new battle against trauma, stigma, poverty, and rejection.

In 2024, Ekaimpact supported a critical partner in this space: Impact & Dialogue Foundation (IDF). Through their safe space programs in Assam, West Bengal, and Meghalaya, they are creating environments for deep, long-term healing. These are more than shelters they are launchpads for new lives.

🛡️ The Power of Safe Spaces

rescued girls are in the classroom studying

IDF runs residential recovery spaces for girls who have faced trafficking and bonded labor. One such space in Assam currently supports around 20 girls, providing them with safety, stability, and tools for independence.

Thanks to Ekaimpact’s support, the foundation was able to meet essential needs through.

Monthly food expenses (96% of the grant)
Miscellaneous rehabilitation costs (4%)

This contribution ensured that the safe space ran smoothly offering consistent nutrition, a peaceful environment, and a dignified life for its residents.

🌟 From Trauma to Transformation

Girls at IDF’s centers receive:

girls learning skills who are rescued and enrolled into the program

Mental health support addressing PTSD, anxiety, and deep-rooted fear. One young girl, who used to wake up screaming from nightmares and barely spoke for months, is now gradually participating in group activities and has started smiling again.
Skilling programs including tailoring, basic computer use, and handicrafts. One girl proudly shared, "When I stitch something that someone else wears, I feel like I exist again." Another, now earning ₹10,000 a month in her village, said, "This work is not just a job. It’s my proof that I’ve survived."
Peer learning and group therapy where survivors support one another. One survivor described the experience as "the only place I don’t feel judged." Another reflected, "These girls understand what silence means."
Social reintegration planning helping girls reconnect with their communities on their own terms. A graduate now leads awareness sessions in her village. Another survivor, once told to lie about being from Bangladesh to avoid stigma, now speaks openly about her journey to inspire others.

One girl, who could not speak due to the trauma she had endured, is now working in a local garment shop and earning ₹10,000 a month. Another, once trapped in domestic servitude, is now helping facilitate peer training sessions.

One survivor who used to teach children in her community was told she wasn’t fit to do so anymore after being rescued. With IDF’s help, she now tutors again reclaiming both dignity and income.

Another girl, shunned by neighbors and barred from entering even familiar homes, now attends community events as a speaker.

A motherly figure in the safe space shared, “I see these girls bloom like flowers each one brave, beautiful, and so full of potential.”

Disclaimer: Names have not been disclosed to protect the identity and privacy of survivors.

💬 What Survivors Face And Why It Matters

Even after rescue, the challenges are immense:

Stigma from society and sometimes their own families
Discrimination in housing, jobs, and even shops
Language barriers, especially for girls trafficked to cities
Lack of access to education or legal identity

Without ongoing support, many survivors are re-trafficked, simply because they have no other safe place to go.

IDF’s work is a critical intervention in this gap. By offering safe spaces, counseling, skilling, and advocacy, they’re building pathways to true freedom.

📊 Use of Funds: Ekaimpact’s Contribution in FY 2024–25

Monthly Food Expenses: 96%
Miscellaneous Rehabilitation Support: 4%

This direct support was crucial in maintaining quality of care at the Assam safe space.

"This is not just a shelter. It is where healing begins." IDF Staff Member

🙏 Thank You, Ekaimpact Community

To the individuals who donated through Ekaimpact: your support funded the most basic but essential needs food, safety, and dignity for girls rebuilding their lives.

What’s Next

IDF now seeks support to:

Build a design and skilling center equipped with modern tailoring machines such as industrial-grade Juki models. This center will provide hands-on training in stitching, embroidery, and garment making to increase employability.
Develop branding and marketing support to help survivors create, package, and promote their handmade products under a unified identity. This will include professional product photography, social media assets, and partnerships with ethical retail platforms.
Train survivors to become peer mentors and community advocates. Graduates of the program will be supported to conduct outreach, assist in new survivor onboarding, and lead local anti-trafficking awareness campaigns.