“Martha” sought solace and acceptance in her friendships. She was alone and unsupported at age 17. Her friends treated her well at first, but it became clear that they didn’t care about her safety or health as they belonged to a gang involved in human trafficking. She was soon coerced into prostitution and eventually became pregnant with her son.
Martha didn’t know where to turn until a victim’s rights agency referred her to our program for young mothers. At Second Story for Young Mothers she worked with a counselor who helped her prepare for motherhood. She learned about nutrition, healthy choices for herself and her baby, budgeting, schedules and all the other things a new mother needs to know. She also found the strength to testify against her captors and put them behind bars.
Martha devoted herself to schoolwork, proudly earned her GED, and found employment at a local restaurant. Martha’s trauma is something she will continue to work through, but she is now in a position to provide for her infant son and move toward a brighter future.
