Reflections on IJM Vision Trip to South Asia

As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I felt the heat, I heard the honking. The feeling was remarkably familiar.  I’m back in South Asia.

I had previously spent a year in South Asia as an intern with IJM, but Kolkata was a new city for me.  Over the next five days, our group would have the opportunity to see the work of IJM in this great city.  Visiting the field for a vision trip is an incredible experience.  Being in the city and learning more about its history and culture helped me understand and appreciate our mission at IJM even more, as we got to see the impact on the lives of people here.

People like the survivors of violence that we had the honour of meeting.  We visited a social enterprise whose mission is to disrupt the cycles of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.  Survivors are provided with education, skills training, and employment to support their healing and restoration.  One survivor shared her journey with us, from being rescued from a red-light area to receiving aftercare and skills training.  She confidently declared that now, through her work in making textile products, she can provide financially for her family.  It was so powerful to hear this story from her, and how she gives hope and inspires others.

Stories like this show the transformation that is taking place, both in individual lives and in communities in the region.  The IJM team in Kolkata has worked for almost 20 years to strengthen the justice system to better protect people living in poverty who are most vulnerable.  Through these efforts, commercial sexual exploitation of children has decreased by an astounding 80%!  The team has built on this experience and expanded its work into other regions of South Asia.  On this trip, we had the privilege of hearing some exciting and miraculous news firsthand–that a critical approval had been granted that day for the next steps of IJM’s program work in Bangladesh to protect vulnerable people from human trafficking.

Being on this trip brought back memories of my internship with IJM, as I saw once again the dedication and tenacity of IJM’s field teams in serving the mission.  It was particularly special to share this experience with our trip participants.  Spending those days together – sharing meals, exploring and learning, building friendships, engaging with the work–was truly enriching.  I was so encouraged by their hearts for justice and desire to see impactful change.  The mission of IJM is made possible because of committed and generous supporters like them.

I came back from South Asia inspired by the passion of the IJM Kolkata team and the strength of the survivors they serve.  As IJM’s program expands in South Asia, there is certainly more work to be done.  But I look ahead with hope, having seen firsthand the high quality of our field teams, and the commitment to the mission of our incredible supporters.