Lua’s Story

Lua put everything she had into the trip, hoping for a brighter future. When she arrived in the UK, her priority was to take care of her family. After about a year of work she sent all the money she earned to her family in Vietnam. The money was received by her mother and used to pay for her and her daughter’s expenses. However, the support she received from her employer did not last long. The next year, the brokers who helped her find the job took her to a different house in another city. There she was locked up, monitored, prohibited from going out and forced to grow cannabis without pay. Her every move was tracked by her trafficker every day and if she displeased them they did not hesitate to beat and starve her. This was exacerbated because she only received food once a month.

In 2021, she finally escaped, seeking help from a neighbor. Police intervened, Lua was safe and the drug house was sealed off. But after five years of trafficking she was left with deep physical and mental wounds. The heavy workload caused her health to fail, resulting in a fatty tumour in her right arm.

Being apart from her family for so long, Lua was deprived of precious memories with her daughter. This grieved her and she experienced panic and fear. Seeing her need for support, the Salvation Army referred her to Hagar Viertnam.

Hagar assisted Lua with the transit process from the UK to her homeland. There she joined Hagar’s the Whole Journey Program and was provided with immediate psychological first-aid, including trauma-informed counselling. The support she received helped her overcome darkness and gain confidence, knowing she was not alone in her recovery. She was also given legal support.

Lua knows she still has a way to go but is hopeful for her future, thanks to Hagar.