On a Sunday morning in mid-November, gentle sunlight embraced the small village of Đạ Nhinh, located in Đạ Tông commune, Đam Rông district, Lâm Đồng province. Villagers leisurely walked along the village path, making their way to the chapel to attend the "Anti-Human Trafficking" awareness session organized by Caritas Đà Lạt.
Within the first 15 minutes, the chapel was filled with over 60 participants. Despite the busy rice harvest season, the villagers made an effort to be present, creating a warm and vibrant atmosphere.
The highlight of the session was a short play performed by the youth group in the village. The play portrayed a real-life story of human trafficking, exposing the dangers hidden behind sweet promises. It brought a profound and emotional lesson to everyone present, raising awareness of the harsh realities of this issue.
A Spark of Light from a Promise
The story began several years ago when three young girls in Đạ Nhinh had just finished grade 9 but were forced to drop out of school due to their families' financial hardship. Unable to bear seeing their parents struggling under the burden, the girls decided to go to Đà Lạt to work in flower gardens.
Although the work was extremely hard, their lives passed by peacefully. Then, one day, as they were working, a stranger approached them and made an attractive offer: “This job is too hard, isn’t it? Would you like easier work with higher pay? You could earn 10 to 20 million VND per month, with free food and accommodation!”
The promise of a high salary sparked a light of hope in the midst of their exhausting days. Without hesitation, the three quickly packed their belongings and boarded a strange vehicle, carrying with them the dream of changing their lives.
But reality turned out to be a nightmare. The vehicle took them to an unfamiliar hotel, where they were held under house arrest, given meager meals, and fed empty promises of “just wait.” As time passed slowly without any sign of the promised job, fear grew in their eyes: “Where are they taking us? How can we escape from here?”
Kindness in the Midst of Darkness
Fortunately, the hotel owner noticed something unusual and sensed that the three girls were being illegally detained. Without hesitation, she reported the situation to the local police. Thanks to the prompt response of the local authorities, including the police, the village leader, and the village elder, an investigation was carried out to confirm the girls' identities and rescue them before the human traffickers could transfer them to a more distant location. During the investigation, the police discovered that the girls had been deceived and handed over to a human trafficking ring operating in Ho Chi Minh City.
The story ended with gratitude and relief, but it also delivered a powerful warning: If the girls had not encountered the kind and wise hotel owner, what would have become of their fate?
The Lesson from the Awareness Session
Liêng Hót L’Nghíu, the sister of one of the three girls, shared this story with the hope that her sister’s experience would serve as a valuable lesson for the villagers, especially parents. She emphasized the need to stay alert, communicate regularly, and pay close attention to their children.
The session concluded with a message from Caritas Đà Lạt: “Always stay vigilant! Do not easily trust sweet promises that lack a solid foundation. Before making any important decisions, be sure to inform and discuss them thoroughly with your family. If you suspect that you have fallen into a human trafficking situation, stay calm and do everything possible to contact your family, trusted individuals, local authorities, or ask for help from those around you.”
Above all, prevention before any incident occurs is the most effective and crucial step. Understanding the deceptive tactics of traffickers is not only essential but must also be widely shared with everyone, everywhere. It is hoped that the villagers will remain alert and work together to combat human trafficking in their own community.
